TIL the word “synalepha” or “synaloepha”

synaloepha /sin-ə-lēˈfə/ (grammar) noun
The melting of a final vowel or diphthong into the initial vowel or diphthong of the next word

ORIGIN: Latinized from Gr synaloiphē, from synaleiphein to coalesce, smear together, from syn together, and aleiphein to anoint
[Chambers Dictionary (iOS) © Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd.]

It’s a thing I first noticed in Spanish language song lyrics but it’s apparently common in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian poetry as well.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/331182?seq=1

It's in the spoken language too. Maybe I am doing it myself and didn't even notice.

we just learnt this as 'elision' in classical studies

fun fact: in Latin verse it can even occur if the second word begins with certain consonants

or if the first word ends with certain consonants! (like m)

It’s called elision too but this word is somehow slightly more general, I don’t totally understand the distinction yet.

Yeah, definitely happens a lot in regular spoken Portuguese in Brazil... didn't know it had a fancy name though, thanks...

It’s a totally common thing I guess, easy to overlook

Just read something about why French is not mentioned in the list. In French the syllable stress is (mostly) pretty variable so the parts of the sentence are already always being smooshed together, partly as the speaker sees fit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXFMC-g0Jt8

…or atonic vowels) are very common: casa alegre (happy home), le escucho (I listen to you), Lucy intenta (Lucy tries), etc.

Good examples!

I guess the thing is that Spanish has five pure vowels and doesn’t have the kind of vowel reduction (maybe it has some other kind that I don’t get) that leads to schwas in English (or in Hebrew, from whence the word “schwa” is derived) but it does have diphthongs and tripthongs and this particular phenomenon, which seems to be viewed as some kind of advanced topic, so advanced that some people never seem get to it. For instance, I just looked in this pretty good grammar book I have and there is no mention of it at all.

Also reminded that I recently recommended to a friend who told me he wanted to learn Portuguese that he should listen to some Brazilian music and he seemed somewhat surprised, but this discussion and some other things continue to make me think it was a good suggestion.

Best way to git it in yer ears...
Plus, then you'll be listening to Brazilian music!

^Yes, exactly!

TIL the word “univerbation.”

Just read something about why French is not mentioned in the list. In French the syllable stress is (mostly) pretty variable so the parts of the sentence are already always being smooshed together, partly as the speaker sees fit.

― Bringing Up Initials B.B. (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, March 20, 2023 7:37 AM (three months ago) bookmarkflaglink

the thing I find interesting about French in this regard is that, in song, the opposite tends to happen. that is, vowel sounds that are silent or elided in spoken french are accentuated by vocalists. but this might be an old-fashioned thing