a phonological study of elision in standart english
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If Yayınları (Revised Edition) A phonological Study of Elision in Standart English - by AbdAli Nayif Hasan - University of Babylon / College of Basic EducationTRANSCRIPT
A phonological Study of Elisionin Standard English
AbdAli Nayif Hasan University of Babylon / College of Basic Education
Genel Yayın KoordinatörüFatih KİRAZ
ELTDinçer AYDİÇ
İletişimE-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +90 506 912 17 29
www.ifyayinlari.com
A phonological Study of Elisionin Standard English
AbdAli Nayif Hasan University of Babylon / College of Basic Education
facebook.com/ifyayinlari
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: