Elision is the term used to define the omission of a sound
or syllable when speaking. There are many words in the English language which
have gone through elision as time has passed. One word that particularly interests
me is ‘because’. It is not very often that you hear people pronounce ‘bee-cause’,
as it is normally shortened through the omission of the sound ‘be’. The word ‘because’
is commonly pronounced as ‘cuz’ which is also used as slang by the younger
generations today. The origin of this word is Middle English from the phrase by
cause which was influenced by Old French par cause ‘by reason of’. The word
because has now been through elision and is used in various different contexts.
‘Cuz’ is often used in a sarcastic way, when an individual is asked a question
in which may embarrass or anger them, which has changed massively. The meaning
of the word has not changed, however the pronunciation and way in which it is
used, has changed.
