DELETION

A. Definition

Deletion is a linguistic process by which a sound present in its underlying phonemic form is removed from the phonetic form in certain environments. For instance, the word infrared is often pronounced [ɪnfərɛd]. However, only in deletion is the segment or sound entirely removed. It is the exact opposite of epenthesis the addition of a sound into a word for more clear pronunciation. The forms of deletion are aphesis, syncope, and apocope.

B. Types

1. Aphesis (aphaeresis) is the loss of one or more sounds from the beginning of a word, especially the loss of an unstressed vowel.

The loss of any sound

· English [k]nife pronounced /ˈnaɪf/

· Swedish [st]rand > Finnish ranta "beach"

The loss of an unstressed vowel

· Greek episkopos > Vulgar Latin [e]biscopu > English bishop

· English [a]cute > cute

· English [E]gyptian > Gyptian > Gypsy

· English [a]mend > mend

· English [e]scape + goat > scapegoat

· Old French evaniss- > English vanish

· English esquire > squire

Aphaeresis as a poetic device

· English it is > poetic 'tis

Aphaeresis in informal speech

· Spanish está > Familiar Spanish [e]tá > ta ("is")

Ø Example of Aphesis:

· around → round

· about → bout

· fire → afire

· long → along

· fore → before

· pear → appear

· pon → upon

· fec → effect

· zamin → examine

· nough → enough

· because → cause

2. Syncope is the loss of one or more sounds from the interior of a word; especially, the loss of an unstressed vowel, it is nicked off the middle of words. The synonym of syncope is elision that is the dropping of a sound which once existed or which still exists in precise speech. Elision is the omission of one or more sounds (such as a vowel, a consonant, or a whole syllable) in a word or phrase, producing a result that is easier for the speaker to pronounce. Example:

Ø Example of Syncope:

· over → o’er

· heaven → heav’n

· hastening → hast’ning

· suppose → sppose

· commoverat → commorat

Syncope in Informal Speech

· going to → gonna

· want to → wanna

· did not → didn’t

· dont know → dunno

· would have →i’d’ve

comfortable:	/ˈkʌmfərtəbəl/	→ /ˈkʌmftərbəl/
fifth:	/ˈfɪfθ/	→ /ˈfɪθ/
him:	/hɪm/	→ /ɪm/
laboratory:	/læˈbɔrətɔri/	→ /ˈlæbrətɔri/ (American English), /ləˈbɔrətri/ (British English)
temperature:	/ˈtɛmpərətʃər/	→ /ˈtɛmpərtʃər/, /ˈtɛmprətʃər/
vegetable:	/ˈvɛdʒətəbəl/	→ /ˈvɛdʒtəbəl/

The following are some examples to illustrate elision. It is clear from the derivation that such a word as mou∫n (motion) used to have a vowel before the n in the second syllable. Some people still sound one, at any rate in precise speaking (mou∫әn). the common pronunciation therefore shows elision of the sound ә.

Such expressions as ‘tu:әn ‘siks (two and six), ‘weit n ‘si: (wait and see) show elision of the d of (ә) nd (weak form of and). The common form ‘ai dou’nou (I don’t know). Shows elision of nt.

Compound words like ‘krismәs (Christmas),‘t∫єnΛt (chestnut), ‘pousmәn (postman), ‘dΛsbin (dust-bin) maybe considered to show elision of the t’s which the first elements have when said by themselves. Similarly the derived form commonly pronounced ‘kainnis (kindness) may be considered to show elision of the d of kaind.

Elisions like assimilation are due to ‘economy of effort’. If a word or expression remains perfectly intelligible without ascertain sound, people tend to omit that sound. If the elision a sound makes a word or expressions difficult to recognize, we say that the pronunciation is ‘slipshod’, Etc.

Some elision maybe regarded as particular kinds of assimilation, the formula being: ‘sound A is replaced by zero under the influence of sound C’. The elision of d in ‘kainnis is one of this nature, since d in such a position would naturally tend to become nasalized; and nasalized d=n, which would naturally disappear in such a position. ‘d is replaced by zero under the influence of the adjoining nasal consonants’.

3. Apocope is the loss of one or more sounds from the end of a word, and especially the loss of an unstressed vowel. Example: In historical phonetics, the term apocope is often (but not always) limited to the loss of an unstressed vowel. Example:

Example of Apocope:

· photograph → photo

· reactionnaire → reactionary

· animation → anime

· synchrorization → sync

· breakfast → breakfast

Loss of an unstressed vowel (with nasal)

· Vulgar Latin pan[em] > Spanish pan ("bread")

· Vulgar Latin lup[um] > French loup ("wolf")

Loss of other sounds

· Latin illu[d] > Spanish ello

Informal speech

Various sorts of informal abbreviations might be classed as apocope:

· English photograph > photo

· French réactionnaire > réac "reactionary"

· English animation > Japanese anime-shon > anime

· English synchronization > sync

· English lotion > lo

· Spanish fotografía > foto "photography"

· Spanish televisión > tele "television"

4. Haplology is defined as the elimination of a syllable when two consecutive identical or similar syllables occur.

Conditions

1) Syllables are both medial; and

2) The structure of the two syllables is similar.

Example:

· Basque: sagarrardo > sagardo 'apple cider'

· English:

o Engla land > England

o Colloquial:

§ library (America. ˌlaɪˈbrəri) > ˌlaɪˈbəri

§ particularly > particuly

§ pierced-ear earrings > pierced earrings

§ probably > probly

· Latin: nutritrix > nutrix 'nurse'

Example of Haplology:

· femininize → feminize

· minimumize → minimize

· metathesisize → metathesize

· strychninize → strychnize

· classicize → classize

· dilletantize → dilletize

· mirrorize → mirrize

· potentize → potize

· terrorize → terrize

· emphasize → emphasis