Phonetics and PhonologyMuhammad Sheroz

2013-928 M.A ELTL

IER, University of the Punjab

Definition: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. Sometimes, sounds may be elided for euphonic effect.

Explanation:In Native English,

elision comes naturally, and it is often described as "slurred" or "muted." Often, elision is deliberate.

Elision is an important area in listening

skills, as learners are often unable to hear elided words correctly, especially if they have little contact with native speakers. Word counting and dictations are two activities that practise recognition, whilst at the production stage drilling elided forms such as contracted forms is common

Elision is very simply the omission of certain sounds in certain contexts. The most important occurrences of this phenomenon regard:1) Alveolar consonants /t/ and /d/ when ‘sandwiched’ between two consonants (CONS –t/d – CONS), e.g.

The next day…./ðə ˈneks ˈdeɪ/

The last car… /ðə ˈlɑ:s ˈkɑ:/

Hold the dog! /ˈhəʊl ðə ˈdɒg/

Send Frank a card. /sen ˈfræŋk ə ˈkɑ:d/

This can also take place within affricates /t§/ and /d½/ when preceded by a consonant, e.g.

lunchtime /ˈlʌntʃtaɪm/ /ˈlʌnʃtaɪm/

strange

days

/ˈstreɪndʒˈdeɪz

/

/ˈstreɪndʒˈdeɪz

/

The phoneme /t/ is a fundamental part of the negative particle not, the possibility of it being elided makes the foreign students life more difficult. Consider the negative of can – if followed by a consonant the /t/ may easily disappear and the only difference between the positive and the negative is a different, longer vowel sound in the second:

I can speak…./aɪ kən ˈspi:k/

I can’t speak… /aɪ ˈkɑ:n(t) ˈspi:k/

Note that when can’t is followed by a vowel, e.g. ‘I can’t eat’, the /t/ is not elided.Can something similar happen to didn’t?

2) A second form involves the omission of the schwa /\/ before liquids /l/ and /r/, e.g.

secretary/ˈsekrət(ə)ri/

camera /ˈkæm(ə)rə/

memory /ˈmem(ə)ri/

In some cases this elision may be optional (dictionaries usually represent the optional sound in italics e.g. /ˈlʌnt ʃtaɪm/ , in others it is the norm.

Word IPA before elision IPA after elision

comfortable /ˈkʌmfərtəbəl//ˈkʌmftərbəl/ (rhotic English), /ˈkʌmftəbəl/ (non-rhotic English)

fifth /ˈfɪfθ/ /ˈfɪθ/

laboratory /læˈbɔrətɔri//ˈlæbrətɔri/ (American English), /ləˈbɒrətri/ (British English)

temperature /ˈtɛmpərətʃər/ /ˈtɛmpərtʃər/, /ˈtɛmprətʃə/

vegetable /ˈvɛdʒətəbəl/ /ˈvɛdʒtəbəl/, /ˈvɛtʃtəbəl/

family /ˈfæmɪli/ /ˈfæmli/

him /hɪm/ /ɪm/

going to /ˈɡoʊ.iŋ tuː/ /ˈɡənə/ (gonna)

Elision predicts success in reading nonsense words more than real words. Since elision deals with manipulation of phonemes, it would make sense that children who can perform this task would do better at readingabstract Pseudo words. Further study is needed to ascertain the range of influence that elision has over other reading skills and behaviors.

Elision may be an important element

in the screening of reading success,

albeit at the level of basic reading

and broad measures of total reading.

Teachers continually ask how they

can quickly assess young readers

who may be at difficulty for reading

failure. It would appear that using

elision tasks may be one answer to

this question.

Elision is a key element of phonological

awareness. Of the elements evaluated by

the CTOPP measuring phonological

awareness, this one element has been

consistently powerful in identifying

children who have reading difficulties.

Thank You