Elisi On

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ELISION

Elision is the process of omitting one or more sound in a word or a phrase to make it easier
to pronounce. It is used in casual informal speech. Elision can help us to sound more
fluently and natural.

When /t/ or /d/ comes between two consonant at the end of a syllable, it gets elided
(C+T/D+C)

Ej:

Scripts, friendship, acts, facts, dialects, attempts, postcard, handsome,


highlands

● Last chance
● Father and son
● Hand bag
● Most popular
● Left turn
● First three
● Next day
● I can’t stand the rain
● It must be time to leave
● Am I the first person here?
● I don’t want it

Elision, however, does not take place if the following consonant is /h/, such as in

● Hand held /ˈhænd ˌheld/


● Grand house /ˈgrænd haʊs/
● Wild horse /ˈwaɪld hɔːs/
● Old hand /əʊld ˈhænd/

And it’s optional if the approximants /r,w/ and /l/ follow.

● Hand rail /ˈhænd reil/, /ˈhæn reil/


● Grand Rapids /ˈgrænd ˈræpɪds/, /ˈgræn ˈræpɪds/
● Old rope /ˈəʊld rəʊp/, /ˈəʊl rəʊp/
● Wild west /ˈwaɪld west/, /ˈwaɪl west/
● Hand luggage /ˈhænd ˈlʌgɪdʒ/, /ˈhæn ˈlʌgɪdʒ/
● Landlocked /ˈlændlɒkt/, /ˈlænlɒkt/
● Old lady /ˈəʊld ˈleɪdi/, /ˈəʊl ˈleɪdi/
● Wild lily /waɪld ˈlɪli/, /waɪl ˈlɪli/

The past tense suffix “ed” is pronounced /d/ after a voiced consonant. If the immediately
word begins with a consonant that causes elision, then the past tense suffix itsel is elided.
The context indicates which tense is intended.

● I warned them /ɑɪ ˈwɔːn ðem/


● And called them /ˈænd ˈkɔːl ðem/
● And told them /ˈænd ˈtəʊl ðem/

The elision of /t/ is similar to the elision of /d/ but the preceding consonant must be
voiceless in the case of /t/ elision.

● Facts /ˈfæks/ but not in faults


● Instincts /ˈɪnstɪŋks/ but not in intents
● Vastness /ˈvɑːsnəs/ but not in pleasantness

As with /d/, elision does not occur if the following consonants is /h/

● Gift horse /ˈgɪft ˌhɒːs/


● Guest house /ˈgest haʊs/
● Left hand /ˈleft hænd/

And is optional if the approximants /r, w/ and /l/ follow.

● Last rites
● Left wing
● Guest list
● Soft landing
● Gift wrap
● Wrist watch

The past tense suffix “ed” is pronounced /t/ after voiceless consonants. If the immediately
word begins with a consonant that causes elision, then- just like the case of /d/ - the /T/
suffix is elided.

● I left my friends
● Crossed the street
● And passed the shop
● Then lost my way

Notice that /t/ doesn’t readily elided if it would otherwise brings two /s/s together at the
end of a world.
● Ghosts
● Costs
● Feasts

Nevertheless, /t/ is elided in theses other cases:

● First serve
● Most surprising
● Lost soul

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