Final answer:
Weak syllable deletion is the omission of a weak syllable to simplify pronunciation or maintain poetic rhythm, such as pronouncing 'chocolate' as 'choc-late' or using 'o'er' instead of 'over' in poetry.
Step-by-step explanation:
Weak syllable deletion is a phonological process where a weak, or less stressed, syllable in a word is omitted during speech. This can occur in everyday spoken language to make words easier to pronounce, or in more structured settings, such as poetry, to maintain the rhythm and meter. A common example of weak syllable deletion in English is the word 'chocolate,' where it is often pronounced as 'choc-late,' omitting the middle syllable.
An explanation of this concept can be further understood by examining poetry. In poetry, weak syllable deletion, also known as elision, is strategically used to fit words into a particular metric pattern, such as in the line 'that floats on high o'er vale and hill' from William Wordsworth's poem "I wandered lonely as a cloud," where 'over' is shortened to 'o'er.'