In ordinary speech numerous instances occur of this tendency to simplify groups of consonants, d and t being the sounds most frequently dropped.
d is not pronounced in handkerchief [hæŋkətʃif], handsome [hænsəm], Windsor [winzə], Guildford [gilfəˑd], Ingoldsby [iŋgəlzbi], Wednesday [wenzdi].[66]
The d in friends, grandfather is also often dropped; and, in very careless speech, the d of such words as old, cold, child, thousand, kindness, landlord.
t is not pronounced in christen [krisən], glisten [glisən], hasten [heisən], listen [lisən], moisten [mɔisən], apostle [ə´pɔsəl], bustle [bʌsəl], castle [kɑːsəl], epistle [i´pisəl], gristle [grisəl], hustle [hʌsəl], ostler [ɔslə], pestle [pesəl], rustle [rʌsəl], thistle [θisəl], trestle [tresəl], whistle [wisəl], wrestle [resəl], *Westbourne [wesbən], *Westminster [wesminstə], Christmas [krisməs], chestnut [tʃesnət], coastguard [kousgɑːd], often [ɔːfən], soften [sɔːfən], mortgage [mɔːgidʒ], *directly [di´rekli], *exactly [i´gzækli], postpone [pous´poun], waistcoat [weiskət, weskət], bankruptcy [bæŋkrəpsi].
In very careless speech the t of such words as slept, swept, wept is dropped; also in acts, facts, insects, sects.
Notice the French rosbif, bifteck.
th is not pronounced in asthma [æsmə], isthmus [isməs] and (carelessly) in depths.
p is not pronounced in empty [emti], jumped [dʒʌmt], tempt [temt], attempt [ə´temt], contempt [kən´temt], peremptory [pər´emtəri], symptom [simtəm],[67] sapphire [sæfaiə], Sappho [sæfou].
c is not pronounced in corpuscle [kɔː´pʌsəl], muscle [mʌsəl], victuals [vitl̩z], indict [in´dait].[68]