On the previous table, it can be seen that the b-, k-, and t-deletion have some forms from the same root where the deletion consistently occurs in the all derived-
words. For example, from the same root bomb, all derived words of this root have b-deletion on it. They are bomber, bomblet, bombproof, bombshell, bombsight,
bombsite, firebomb and mailbomb where all b from the words is deleted.
Likewise, the b-deletion occurs in the same derived words of the root comb, doubt, lamb,
and thumb.
Furthermore, the analysis of the k-deletion and the t-deletion also show the
same findings. The words knock n k, known əʊ, and knot n t have the letter
silencing for k in all their derived words. Similarly, t-deletion has listen
ˈl s ən
and bristle
ˈbr səl as examples where all t of the letter is silent. In this point, it can be recognized that all derived words from the same root presented above have
all deletion for the stop in the consonant cluster. In addition, not only for the derived-words, the deletion is applied for the
inflection the stem + affix. For example, in the words bombs, bombed, bombing,
the b deleted. Hence, this permanent condition can be stated as the foremost characteristic of permanent deletion.
b. Permanent Condition in the Syllable Morpheme Boundary
The second characteristic of permanent deletion is the absence of the syllable-or-morpheme-boundary influence to the occurrence of the deletion. As
seen in the previous words, in whatever position of the sound which is deleted, the
occurrence of the deletion is still applied. For example, in the word know, where
the k is in initial position, the deletion still takes place. Similarly, it also ocurs
when the k is positioned in the intermediate position unbeknown, unknowable, unknown,
and knowing. In the same way, the word lamb applies the b-deletion in the final position.
When it is in the intermediate position as in the words lambkin, lamblike, lambskin,
and lambswool, the b-deletion is still applied. Therefore, it can be
signified that in permanent deletion, there is no such influence on the syllable or morpheme boundary to the occurrence of the deletion in the consonant cluster.
The examples can be observed in Table 8 below.
Table 8. Examples of Position of Stop Deletion in Syllable Morpheme
Boundary Deletion
Root Initial
Intermediate Final
b-deletion plumb pl
ʌm
- plumber
ˈplʌmə plumbing
ˈplʌm ŋ unplumbed
ˌʌnˈplʌmd
k-deletion
k
nob n b
k
nobbly ˈn bəli
k
nobby ˈn bi
doorknob ˈdɔːn b
-
k
not n t
k
notgrass ˈn tɡr ːs
k
nothole ˈn thəʊl
k
notty ˈn ti
slipknot ˈsl p n t
topknot ˈt p n t
unknot ˌʌnˈn t
-
g-deletion foreig
n ˈf rən -
foreigner ˈf rənə
- t-deletion
thist
le ˈθ səl -
thistledown ˈθ səldaʊn
thistly ˈθ səl‿i
-
In the table above, there are some words consist of b-deletion, k-deletion, g-
deletion, and t-deletion. The first example is b-deletion plumb. It has at least two
other b-deletion in the intermediate position of the words plumber and plumbing. In this point, the b remains deleted. Likewise, it is applied for unplumbed where
b is in the final position. It can be affirmed that the root plumb and its derived-
words where b is on the other position, the deletion is still there. Subsequently, the same thing also occurs for g-deletion and t-deletion on
consign, foreign, and thistle. In this case, the deletion takes place in the final
position. Then when it moves to the intermediate position, like consignee, consignment,
consignor, foreigner, or thistledown and thistly, the g and the t
are also silent in this position.
Furthermore, two examples of k-deletion in the initial position knob and knot
also show the permanence of the deletion. These words have the other initial
position and intermediate position. The first example is the root knob that has two other initial positions of knobbly and knobby and one intermediate position on
doorknob . These words have applied the same k-deletion on them. The second
example is the root knot that has the initial position of knotgrass, knothole, and knotty
while in the intermediate position it has slipknot, topknot, and unknot. This
observation can reveal the occurrence of permanent deletion where it has no interference of the position of the letter as a representation of the deletion.
Therefore, the name of this deletion is also the so-called letter silencing since it is completely silent in all position of the words whitin syllable or morpheme
boundary.
c. No Dependency on Regional Variations
