1. Unstressed syllables: In spoken language, syllables can be stressed or unstressed. Unstressed syllables are often spoken quickly and softly, sometimes even omitted in casual speech. This might be what you're thinking of if you're considering how words sound in everyday conversation.
2. Elision: This is a poetic technique where syllables are omitted from words to create a particular rhythm or sound. For example, in the phrase "o'er the hills," the word "over" is shortened to "o'er." This is a way of "dropping" syllables for artistic effect.
3. Syncope: This is a linguistic phenomenon where a syllable is dropped from the middle of a word. For example, "history" can become "hist'ry." This happens more frequently in informal speech or in dialects.
4. Aphaeresis: This is a linguistic phenomenon where a syllable is dropped from the beginning of a word. For example, "about" can become "'bout." This also happens more frequently in informal speech or in dialects.
To understand which concept you are referring to, please provide more context. For example:
* What are you trying to do? Are you trying to analyze a poem? Are you trying to improve your pronunciation?
* What is the specific example you have in mind? Can you give me a word or phrase where you think syllables are being dropped?
Once I know more about what you're asking, I can give you a more specific answer.