- Deletion (phonology)
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Sound change and alternation Fortition Dissimilation Other types
In linguistics, deletion is the removal of a sound from a word, often for easier pronunciation. For instance, the word infrared is often pronounced [ɪnfərɛd].
Like dissimilation or assimilation, deletion makes a word easier to pronounce.
The opposite is epenthesis, the addition of a sound.
Examples
English
In "infrared" the "r" is deleted and the word is often pronounced [ɪnfərɛd]
French
In French, s in a consonant cluster with a stop (sp, st, sk) after a vowel was deleted. The vowel before the deleted s takes a circumflex or acute.
- Latin hospitāle (neuter of hospitālis) → Old French (h)ostel → Modern French hôtel
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- → Modern French hôpital
- Latin status (noun) → Old French estat → Modern French état
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- (participle) → Old French estét → Modern French été
- Latin spatha → Old French espee → Modern French épée
- Latin schola → Old French escola → Modern French école
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