Analysis of English Phrases With Contractions

English uses many contractions. They are especially common in informal speech. The contraction 's can mean both is and has. Let us analyze two phrases with this contraction.

The sentence My wife's cooking is short for My wife is cooking. Here is the phonological analysis of the sentence:

UR /waIf Iz/
Vowel Deletion waif + z
Devoicing waif + s
PR [waifs]   

Another sentence with the contraction wife's is My wife's bought a new purse. Here is the phonological analysis of the sentence:

UR /waif hæz/
Consonant Deletion waif + æz
Vowel Weakening waif + əz
Vowel Deletion waif + z
Devoicing waif + s
PR [waifs]

The phonetic representations are identical in both cases, but to derive the contracted form which means wife is, two rules are needed. However, to derive the contracted form which means wife has, four rules are needed. Vowel deletion must precede devoicing. The reason is that vowel deletion creates the environment for devoicing. This is an example of a feeding order.

The English contract 's is a contraction of the verbs is and has. Phonological rules are needed to explain the sound changes which occur as a result of contraction. The rules which apply in both cases are vowel deletion and devoicing.