Plosive Elision and Epenthesis in English Phonetics

Understanding Elision in English Phonetics

Elision is the linguistic process by which a phoneme is dropped from a word during speech.

Elision of T and D

This kind of elision can be found in a good number of cluster combinations, but is particularly common in ft, st, ld, and nd. Examples include:

• Postcard
• Left shoe
• Old man
• Stand here

However, elision is not possible in the following cases:

• Left ear: because the 't' is followed by a vowel.
• First hand: because the 't' is followed by 'h'.
• Paintbox: because the 't' is preceded by a voiced consonant.

In the conjunction "and," the final 'd' may be elided. For example: black and white. Contractions ending in n't (such as don't, doesn't, didn't, and can't) may drop the 't', with the exceptions of wasn't and weren't. Example: They couldn't go. Additionally, verbs like "want to, got to, ought to, and used to" are often pronounced with only one plosive. Example: I want to sleep.

Elision of K and P

Speakers usually elide "k" and "p" in specific consonant sequences: ks, kt, mpt, mps, and mp . Examples include:

• Thanks
• Adjunct
• Attempt
• Glimpse
• Gumption

Epenthesis: Adding Extra Phonemes

Epenthesis is the insertion of an extra phoneme into a word. English speakers may use a "stopping" consonant as a kind of accent in ways that are entirely superfluous. For example, inserting a "p" sound into a word like "hamster" or even "teamster" gives the word a slightly different sound but does not change its meaning or add substance. This type of insertion is very common between a nasal and a voiceless fricative occurring within the same syllable.

T Epenthesis Examples

• Science: /ˈsaɪəns/ - /ˈsaɪənts/
• Tension: /ˈtenʃən/ - /ˈtentʃən/
• Month: /mʌnθ/ - /mʌntθ/
• Information: /ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən/ - /ˌɪntfəˈmeɪʃən/

P Epenthesis Examples

• Comfortable: /ˈkʌmfərtəbl/ - /ˈkʌmpfərtəbl/
• Something: /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/ - /ˈsʌmpθɪŋ/
• Hamster: /ˈhæmstə/ - /ˈhæmpstə/

K Epenthesis Examples

• Youngster: /jʌŋstə/ - /jʌŋkstə/
• Length: /leŋθ/ - /leŋkθ/

Regressive Assimilation in Nasal Sounds

Regressive assimilation is a process whereby a sound influences the one that precedes it. This process may affect the place of articulation, the manner of articulation, or the voicing. English nasals can undergo regressive assimilation; for instance, they may change an alveolar nasal "n" to a bilabial nasal "m" when followed by a bilabial segment (p, b, m).

Examples of Place Assimilation:

• Gunpoint: /ˈɡʌnpɔɪnt/ - /ˈɡʌmpɔɪnt/
• Cranberry: /ˈkrænbəri/ - /ˈkræmbəri/

Regressive place assimilation likewise accounts for the change of n to ŋ:

• Enquire: /ɪnˈkwaɪə/ - /ɪŋˈkwaɪə/
• Congratulate: /kənˈɡrætjuːleɪt/