Sometimes there is a change in the first part of a compound word. Compare half and halfpenny, three and threepence, fore and forehead, break and breakfast.
The stress of compounds like sixpence is discussed below ("blackbirds").
48. In pocket the second vowel is not middle [e], but a very laxly articulated variety of [ɪ], with the tongue only a little higher than for close [e]; see § 38. In the speech of elocutionists the middle [e] often appears here. They tell of the [gaːəden ɔv ijden], just as they succeed in pronouncing [devɪl] instead of [devəl], thus avoiding all offence; for [devəl] is said by common people, but [devɪl] only by the polite.
Notice that in four-and-twenty the r is pronounced, as it comes between vowels; but it is mute in before the King, where it comes before a consonant, as in the word forth. See § 32.
49. In and the d is dropped. Here it might be a case of assimilation; that is to say the t which immediately follows, and which is closely akin to it, might have changed it to [t], and the two would have fallen together.
In sit down, do you utter both [t] and [d]? If you speak naturally, you probably say [sidaun] or [sitaun]. What is your pronunciation of hold tight, less zeal?
In cupboard none but the absurdly precise pronounce the [p].
Assimilation of consonants is common in English, and the more colloquial the speech is, the more assimilation you are likely to find. Assimilation reduces the number of movements which have to be made, and thus represents a saving of trouble; and in colloquial speech we incline to take as little trouble as possible.