A phonological Study of Elisionin Standard English

AbdAli Nayif Hasan University of Babylon / College of Basic Education

Genel Yayın KoordinatörüFatih KİRAZ

ELTDinçer AYDİÇ

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A phonological Study of Elisionin Standard English

AbdAli Nayif Hasan University of Babylon / College of Basic Education

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A phonolog�cal Study of El�s�on �n Standard Engl�sh

AbdAl� Nay�f Hasan

Un�vers�ty of Babylon / College of Bas�c Educat�on

Introduct�on

El�s�on can be def�ned as the ''om�ss�on of sounds �n connected speech '' (Crystal,

2003: 158). In th�s respect , Underh�ll(1998 :61 ) �nd�cates that ''el�s�on �s a natural

result of the speech organs cutt�ng corners �n connected speech ,ma�nly to word

boundar�es'' . Thus, el�s�on �s the character�st�c of rap�d connected speech. It �s used

for the sake of mak�ng the pronunc�at�on of sounds easy �n connected speech. It �s

poss�ble to el�de a s�ngle phoneme or a whole syllable as �llustrated �n the follow�ng

�nstances:

handsome /hands ∂m/ / hans∂m/ ( a s�ngle phoneme / d / �s el�ded ) .

l�brary / la�br ∂ r� / /la�br� / ( a whole syllable / r∂ / �s el�ded ) .

In Arab�c , the most commonly el�ded sounds are [a ] , [ y ] and [ w ] ( Ateeq

,n.d. : 44 ) . Somet�mes, el�s�on �n Engl�sh �s s�m�lar to that �n Arab�c as �llustrated

�n the follow�ng examples �n wh�ch / t / �s el�ded �n both of them:

mostly / moustl� / /mousl� /

a ] ؟ [�staa اسطاعa] ؟[�stataa ع استطا

On the other hand , sounds such as [y] and[w] can be el�ded �n Arab�c, whereas �n

Engl�sh �t �s �mposs�ble to el�de / j / and / w / wh�ch are known as gl�d�ng

consonants or sem�-vowels as shown bellow :

[damun ] دم[ damyun ] دمي

�du ] ؟[ yaيعد�du] ؟[yawيوعد ada] ؟[wa وعد

( Ib�d )

you / ju: /

we /w�: /

It can be hypothes�zed that d�fferences are more than s�m�lar�t�es between Engl�sh

and Arab�c types of el�s�on .Accord�ngly, the present study a�ms at �nvest�gat�ng such

po�nts of s�m�lar�t�es and d�fferences. .

The research under �nvest�gat�on �s of cons�derable value to those �nterested �n the

f�eld of contrast�ve stud�es. Also �t g�ves an �ns�ght about Engl�sh and Arab�c

phonology.

El�s�on �n Engl�sh -2

Th�s sect�on �s concerned w�th the cond�t�ons that govern the el�s�on of s�ngle

phonemes such as consonants and vowels as well as the el�s�on of whole syllables

.H�stor�c el�s�on �s also taken �nto cons�derat�on.

El�s�on of Consonants .1 2

Th�s sect�on deals w�th the phonemes whose el�s�on pr�mar�ly depends on the�r

env�ronment, �.e. the context �n wh�ch the words conta�n�ng such phonemes occur .

/d /and / t / El�s�on of .1 .12

Many l�ngu�sts aff�rm that /t / and /d / are cons�dered the most commonly el�ded

phonemes �n Engl�sh. In th�s respect, F�nch (2005: 44-45) po�nts out that such a type

of el�s�on �s due to ''casual speech '' as �llustrated �n the follow�ng examples:

mostly /moustl� / /mousl� /

handsome

S�m�larly, Coll�ns and Mees (2008: 118) note that such an el�s�on �s �nvolved when

chang�ng from ''the �deal form �n connected speech ''. In add�t�on, Underh�ll (1998:

61) states that / t / and / d / are el�ded when they occur �n a sequence of three

consonants �n connected speech: next please / nekst pl�:z / /neks pl�:z /

you and me

In the same way, Roach (2000:143) po�nts out that ''�n clusters of three plos�ves or

two plos�ves plus a fr�cat�ve, the m�ddle plos�ve may d�sappear ''. Cons�der the

follow�ng �nstances �n wh�ch the med�al plos�ve /t / �s el�ded:

acts /akts / /aks /

looked back /lukt bak / /luk bak /

In add�t�on, Yule (1996: 59 -60) says that /t / and /d / are el�ded �n consonant

clusters espec�ally �n ''coda pos�t�on '', �. e. after the center of the syllable as the

follow�ng �nstances �llustrate :

aspects / aspekts / /aspeks /

fr�endsh�p

/ t / and /d / are also el�ded when they occur f�nally preceded by /n / and followed

by a word beg�nn�ng w�th a consonant as �n :

hand that to tom

(Hudson, 2000:210 -212)

In th�s respect, Crystal (1989: 164) �nd�cates that /d / �s el�ded when �t

occurs between / n /and one or two of the follow�ng consonants such as / s /, /m /, /z /:

handsome

grandmother /grandm^ ^

hands /handz / / hanz /

G�mson (1977:297-298) po�nts out that ''the alveolar plos�ves are apt to be

el�ded �n rap�d speech when they occur �n the follow�ng sequences followed by a word

beg�nn�ng w�th a consonant'':

/ / -gd / ,

/ -d3 d/ :

last chance

kept qu�et /

Coll�ns and Mees (2008: 121) say that the sequence / tt / �s reduced to /t/ �n the

follow�ng forms:

ought to , want to , got to :

We ought to v�s�t h�m

I want to leave

It �s worth not�ng that / t / and / d / are not el�ded when they are

1- followed by a word beg�nn�ng w�th / h / :

smoked her�ng / smoukt her� / ( �b�d : 120 ) .

2- followed by a word beg�nn�ng w�th a vowel :

hand �t to me

Concern�ng th�s po�nt, Coll�ns and Mees (2008:120) note that �n certa�n sequences

shown �n the follow�ng example / k / �s el�ded:

They asked us

However, /t /, �n add�t�on to / k /, may also be el�ded when followed by a consonant:

masked gunman / ma:st g^ ^

3-preceded by / nt / or /lt / �n wh�ch case they may be replaced by a glottal stop [?]:

spent t�me / spent ta�m / or / spen? ta�m /

walt D�sney / wo:lt d�zn�/ or / wo:l? d�zn� / ( Ib�d )

El�s�on and Ass�m�lat�on.2 .1 2

Heffner (1975: 188) aff�rms that ''when two sounds become cont�guous �n the speech

measure, one or both of them may, �n the fus�on of the conf�gurat�on, undergo changes

wh�ch

tend to make each more l�ke �ts ne�ghbor'' . In th�s case, G�mson( 1977 :298 ) �nd�cates

that when

/and/d3 /:

Is that yours?

Would you l�ke th�s? / wud3

S�m�larly, Ku�per and Allan (1996: 74) note that el�s�on of a segment may allow an

ass�m�lat�on to occur:

hand bag / hand bag / / han bag / / ham bag / .

It can be noted that s�nce /d / �s el�ded, /n / and / d / become adjacent. As a result /n /

changes �nto / m / under the �nfluence of / b / so that both of them w�ll become

b�lab�al, �. e. hav�ng the same place of art�culat�on.

�n Contracted Forms / t / El�s�on of .3 .12

The phoneme /t / of the negat�ve form �s often el�ded, part�cularly �n d�syllables,

before a follow�ng consonant:

You mustn't lose �t

Wouldn't she come ^m / .

(G�mson, 1977:298)

El�s�on of / t / may somet�mes occur before a vowel:

You mustn't over eat �t.

(Ib�d)

/h / El�s�on of ..4.12

In casual speech, the phoneme / h / �s el�ded when �t occurs �n weak forms of

funct�on words as �n:

I th�nk he w�ll have told her

(Hudson, 2000: 210)

The example above shows that he �s pronounced / � /, have her

El�s�on of Dental Fr�cat�ves .5 .12

certa�n words such as months and clothes:

months / m^n€s / / m^ ns /

clothes

(Coll�ns and Mees, 2008:121)

However, / € / �s not el�ded �n numerals such as f�fth and twelfth. Instead, the

preced�ng sound may be el�ded:

f�fth / f�f€ / / f� € / twelfth / twelf€ / / twel€/

(Ib�d)

/v / El�s�on of .6 .12

G�mson (1977: 143) �nd�cates that the phoneme /v / �n the word of �s el�ded when

followed by a consonant:

lots of them

In the same respect, Crystal (2003: 247) says that a word such as ''of �s prone to

el�s�on before consonants'':

lots o' people

In add�t�on, Coll�ns and Mees (2008: 121) note that the el�s�on of / v / �n of �s

three of the webs�tes

websa�ts /

El�s�on of a Whole Syllable .7 .12

Crystal (203:247 ) states that ''a whole syllable may be el�ded, espec�ally when

there �s a separated consonant as �n:

l�brary

part�cularly

S�m�larly, Raj�mwale (2009: 105 -106) �nd�cates that el�s�on may occur �n words

such as because and probably �n wh�ch case they can be heard as cause and probly.

El�s�on H�stor�c.8 .12

Ku�per and Allan (1996: 75) state certa�n �nstances �n wh�ch there are s�lent

consonants that reflect the earl�er pronunc�at�on and they have no longer been

pronounced even �n careful speech:

Wr�ght, knee, gnaw, th�stle, fasten, walk, lamb, etc.

In th�s respect, Elg�n (1979: 95) states a phonolog�cal rule that/g/ �s el�ded when �t

occurs before a word f�nal nasal as �n: s�gn / sa�n / des�gn /d�za�n /. However, / g / �s

pronounced when followed by a suff�x as �n: s�gnature des�gnat�on /

On the other hand, Fromk�n et al (2003: 310) agree w�th Hudson (2000: 412) to state

a rule by means of wh�ch/b/ �n old spell�ng �s om�tted when �t occurs f�nally preceded

by a nasal consonant as �n:

thumb / € ^ m / , l�mb / l�m / , cl�mb / kla�m / .

However, Hudson (Ib�d) notes that the stop consonant /b / �s reta�ned when a

suff�x �s added as �n: l�mb /l�m /, l�mber

El�s�on of Vowels .2 2

Th�s sect�on �s pr�mar�ly concerned w�th the el�s�on of vowels �n contracted

forms and weak syllables. Such types of el�s�on can be �n�t�al or med�al accord�ng to

the context �n wh�ch they occur as �llustrated �n the follow�ng po�nts.

El�s�on of In�t�al Vowels .1 .22

frequently be�ng

made by the syllab�c�ty of the cont�nuant '' ) . Cons�der the follow�ng examples:

not alone / get another ^ / / get n n^

�t may coalesce w�th the preced�ng vowel:

try aga�n

(Ib�d)

Lass (1984:187) states that the process of el�d�ng �n�t�al vowels �s referred to as

aphaeres�s. Ku�per and Allan (1996:74) po�nts out that a vowel such as /a / can be

el�ded �n the word

am when �t occurs �n a contracted form :

I am / a� am / I'm / a�m /

syllables �s el�ded as �n:

about

along

El�s�on of Med�al Vowels.2 .22

asp�rated sounds such as / p /, / t / and / k / as the follow�ng examples �llustrate:

potato hte�tou ]

today hde� ]

canary h

�f �t �s followed by l�nk�ng /r / and word �n�t�al vowel '' :

after awh�le

father and son ^n /

Lass (1984: 187) names such a phonolog�cal process of vowel el�s�on as

syncope (syncopat�on):

secretary

d�ct�onary

Ku�per and Allan (1996: 74) �nd�cate that a vowel sound can be el�ded �n

certa�n words such as geography / d3�:ograf� / /d3ograf� /

/ or / �/ �s el�ded �n the m�ddle of words when the preced�ng vowel �s stressed as �n:

v�ctory

eas�ly / �:z�l� / /�:zl� /

f�nally

F�nally, Roach (2000: 142) notes that ''a weak vowel + / n /, / l / or / r / becomes a

syllab�c

consonant '' :

ton�ght /tna�t / , pol�ce / pl�:s / , correct / krekt / .

El�s�on �n Arab�c - 3

In Arab�c, there are two types of el�s�on: regular and �rregular. The former �s

assoc�ated w�th the �nternal structure of words. Th�s means that el�s�on �s due to

d�ff�culty of pronunc�at�on.

The latter does not follow a morpholog�cal rule. It �s referred to as arb�trary. (Ateeq,

n.d.: 44)

Regular El�s�on .1 3

Th�s type of el�s�on can be �llustrated �n the follow�ng po�nts: