Talking English

5. Connected Speech in English Pronunciation

Connected speech refers to how sounds change, merge, or disappear during natural, fluent speech. This phenomenon helps create smoother, more natural communication. Mastering connected speech allows learners to improve fluency, listening comprehension, and conversational rhythm.

1. Understanding Connected Speech

1.1. Definition
Connected speech occurs when words influence each other’s pronunciation in continuous speech, unlike isolated word pronunciation.

1.2. Key Processes in Connected Speech
a. Linking: Joining sounds between words.
b. Elision: Dropping or omitting sounds.
c. Assimilation: Changing sounds for easier pronunciation.
d. Reduction: Using weak forms for unstressed words.

2. Linking Sounds

2.1. Definition
Linking occurs when the final sound of one word connects to the initial sound of the next word.

2.2. Types of Linking
a. Consonant-to-Vowel Linking:

• Example: “Turn off the light” → /tɜrnɒf ðə laɪt/.
  b. Vowel-to-Vowel Linking: A /j/ or /w/ sound is inserted between vowels.

• Example: “He is” → /hi jɪz/, “Go on” → /gəʊ wɒn/.

2.3. Practical Examples

• “I’m going to eat it” → /aɪm gəʊɪŋ tə ˈiːt ɪt/.

• “It’s over there” → /ɪts oʊvə(r) ðɛr/.

2.4. Exercises
a. Linking Practice: Practice sentences with linking sounds, e.g., “She’s going to ask him” → /ʃiːz ˈɡəʊɪŋ tə ˈæsk ɪm/.
b. Chained Reading: Students read sentences aloud in pairs, focusing on linking.

3. Elision

3.1. Definition
Elision occurs when sounds are omitted during rapid speech, commonly with unstressed syllables or consonants.

3.2. Types of Elision
a. Consonant Elision: Final consonants are dropped.

• Example: “Next week” → /nɛks wiːk/.
  b. Vowel Elision: Unstressed vowels are omitted.

• Example: “Camera” → /ˈkæmrə/.

3.3. Practical Examples

• “He must be” → /hiː mʌs biː/ (dropping the /t/).

• “Facts about it” → /fæks əˈbaʊt ɪt/ (eliding the /t/ in “facts”).

3.4. Exercises
a. Elision Practice: Identify elided sounds in sentences, e.g., “I just want to go” → /aɪ dʒʌs wɑnə gəʊ/.
b. Rapid Sentence Drill: Practice rapid speech with elision while maintaining clarity.

4. Assimilation

4.1. Definition
Assimilation occurs when sounds change to become more similar to adjacent sounds.

4.2. Types of Assimilation
a. Progressive Assimilation: A sound is influenced by the preceding sound.

• Example: “Good boy” → /ɡʊb bɔɪ/.
  b. Regressive Assimilation: A sound is influenced by the following sound.

• Example: “Green park” → /ɡriːm pɑːk/.

4.3. Practical Examples

• “That person” → /ðæp pɜːsən/ (the /t/ in “that” becomes /p/).

• “This shoe” → /ðɪʃ ʃuː/ (the /s/ in “this” changes to /ʃ/).

4.4. Exercises
a. Assimilation Drills: Practice phrases like “bad guy” → /bæɡ ɡaɪ/ and “last year” → /læs tʃɪər/.
b. Role-Play Assimilation: Pairs practice dialogues emphasizing assimilation.

5. Reduction and Weak Forms

5.1. Definition
Reduction occurs when function words are pronounced in their weak forms using the schwa sound /ə/.

5.2. Examples of Weak Forms

• “To” → /tə/ or /tʊ/.

  • Example: “I’m going to” → /aɪm ˈɡəʊɪn tə/.

• “Can” → /kən/ or /kn/.

  • Example: “I can do it” → /aɪ kən duː ɪt/.

5.3. Practical Examples

• “A cup of tea” → /ə kʌp əv tiː/.

• “You and me” → /ju ən miː/.

5.4. Exercises
a. Reduction Practice: Practice common phrases like “going to” → “gonna” and “a lot of” → “a lotta.”
b. Schwa Practice: Repeat sentences like “He’s going away” → /hiːz ˈɡəʊɪŋ əˈweɪ/.

6. Intrusive Sounds

6.1. Definition
Intrusive sounds are added between vowels for smoother transitions.

6.2. Types of Intrusive Sounds
a. Intrusive /r/: “Law and order” → /lɔːr ənd ɔːdər/.
b. Intrusive /j/ and /w/: “She is” → /ʃi jɪz/, “You are” → /ju wɑː/.

6.3. Practical Examples

• “The idea of it” → /ðə aɪˈdɪər əv ɪt/ (intrusive /r/).

• “I saw it” → /aɪ sɔː wɪt/ (intrusive /w/).

6.4. Exercises
a. Intrusive Sound Practice: Insert /r/, /j/, or /w/ in phrases like “Go on” → /gəʊ wɒn/.
b. Vowel Link Practice: Practice sentences like “See it” → /siː jɪt/.

7. Flapping (T-Tap) in American English

7.1. Definition
Flapping occurs when /t/ or /d/ between vowels is pronounced as a soft /d/.

7.2. Examples of Flapping

• “Butter” → /ˈbʌdər/.

• “City” → /ˈsɪdi/.

7.3. Exercises
a. T-Tap Practice: Practice words like “better,” “water,” and “city.”
b. Flapping Dialogue Practice: Apply the T-tap in casual conversations.

Conclusion: Mastering Connected Speech

Connected speech processes—linking, elision, assimilation, reduction, intrusive sounds, and flapping—help learners sound more fluent and natural. By integrating these features into listening and speaking practice, learners can achieve clearer and more rhythmical English communication.