Syncope
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Syncope (etymologically derives from the Greek combination ‘syn’ and ‘koptein’, meaning “to strike off,” “cutting from the middest”) is a kind of MetaplasmOpens in new window by deletion where letters or syllablesOpens in new window are omitted from the middle of a word or phrase. For instance: “ma’am” instead of “madam;” or “good-bye” instead of “God be with you.”
However, if the omission occurs in manner of error or negligence it is considered a barbarismOpens in new window. By virtue of poetic licenseOpens in new window, syncope is often employed for reasons of meterOpens in new window or euphonyOpens in new window; this was the case when ShakespeareOpens in new window’s Claudius after being sure of Hamlet’s death offered: “Howe’er my haps, my joys were ne’er begun” (4.3.69).
Notable Examples
Cases of syncope is frequent in vowel loss; where words like medicine is pronounced /’medsin/; library as /’laibri/. It also extends to consonant loss where we have however syncopated into howe'er and boatswain into bosun.