Elision
Disappearing Sounds
This is very useful for non-native English speakers
You may or may not have noticed that during natural speech not all sounds are pronounced. Elision is a linguistic term that refers to the omission or removal of a sound or syllable from a word when it is spoken. This process can occur in many languages, including English, and it is an important aspect of natural speech patterns. Elision is often used to make spoken language more efficient, as well as to create smoother and more natural-sounding speech. We will explore the concept of elision in more detail, examining its role in spoken English and providing examples to illustrate its use.
In English, elision typically occurs when a sound or syllable at the end of a word is followed by a word that begins with a vowel sound. In this case, the final consonant sound is often dropped to create a smoother transition between the two words. For example, the word “I am” is often pronounced as “I’m,” with the final “a” sound of “am” being dropped to make the phrase easier to say. Similarly, the word “have” is often omitted in phrases such as “I’ve” or “they’ve,” where the “ve” sound serves as a contraction for “have.
Another common type of elision in English is the removal of unstressed syllables from longer words. This is often done to make the word easier to say or to fit it into a particular rhythmic pattern. For example, the word “probably” is often pronounced as “prolly” in casual speech, with the second syllable being elided to create a shorter and more natural-sounding word.
Elision is also commonly used in English to create contractions. These are shortened forms of words that are created by eliding one or more letters. For example, the word “cannot” is often contracted to “can’t,” with the final “not” sound being elided. Similarly, the word “it is” can be contracted to “it’s,” with the “i” sound from “is” being elided.
In addition to these common examples, there are many other instances of elision in English that are used to create more natural-sounding speech. For example, the phrase “going to” is often pronounced as “gonna” in casual speech, with the “ing” sound being elided. Similarly, the word “different” is often pronounced as “diff’rent” in certain dialects of English, with the “er” sound being elided to create a smoother transition between syllables.
Overall, elision is an important aspect of spoken language that allows us to communicate more efficiently and effectively. By omitting certain sounds or syllables, we can create smoother and more natural-sounding speech, as well as make words and phrases easier to say. While elision is often used in casual speech, it can also be found in more formal contexts, such as poetry or music, where it is used to create specific rhythmic patterns. Ultimately, understanding the role of elision in English can help us to better understand the nuances of spoken language and the ways in which we communicate with one another on a daily basis.
Like many of the aspects of English pronunciation the patterns of elision are not random and there are certain specific situations within spoken English where certain sounds can be or are dropped. In our ‘Connected Speech’ course we go into detail to give you more idea concerning these very specific patterns which will give you more awareness of when they occur.
Have you noticed that in English when people are speaking they drop certain sounds? Is it worth learners of English bothering trying to master these types of natural speech patterns?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments
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