Date: Dec 16 2008
Topic: Pronunciation

Author: nad1a

Lesson

Understanding how words are connected will not only make you sound more natural, but will also help you understand native speakers better. I would say that this isn't only an English language feature, but this pretty much happens in most languages. If it weren't that way, we would rather sound like robots.

What is special about the way words are connected in English is, that while doing that a lot of the connecting sounds (at the end of the previous and beginning of next word) tend to either , sort of , fade away or change into a softer sound.

Connecting a consonant with a vowel (including semivowels W, Y and R)

a beautiful actress (a-beautifu-lactress)
Connecting consonants produced from a similar position in the mouth (lips, teeth, throat).

You have to stop being so touchy. [stoBBeen]
Do you have a lot of friends? [o’frends]
I was surprised to hear that. [waSSurpriseTTohear]
I just didn't know [jussdidn't ]
Connecting vowel with a vowel

        Depending on the position of the lips, vowels are connected with a glide [w] or [y], that goes in between the two words.

Go away.         [go(w)away]
I also know him. [äi(y)älso]
Give me the other one.        [Give me the(y)other one]

Connecting Y

The combination of T, D, S or Z + Y forces a change in a pronunciation, which if not aware of, will make you wonder what is actually being said. Especially if you 're learning English mainly through reading and you're not so experienced in speaking and listening to English.

        T + Y = CH - Don't you understand?         [Donchoo ]
D + Y = J -   Did you know that?            [Didja know that?]
S + Y = SH - Cross your fingers      [krosher fingers]
Z + Y = ZH -   How's your friend doing?     [howzher friend doing?]

***

Related Lessons:

LEARNING LANGUAGES: MYTHS AND TRUTH

The American Pronunciation of "T"

How Intonation Changes Meaning

Comments

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12:03 AM Apr 01 2009 \| Reply
manu_wj Italy	very usefull lesson, thanks..

12:03 AM Apr 01 2009 | Reply

manu_wj

Italy

very usefull lesson, thanks..

12:22 PM Jan 31 2009 \| Reply
jimmy33 Guadeloupe	an important lesson. thank you.

12:22 PM Jan 31 2009 | Reply

jimmy33

Guadeloupe

an important lesson. thank you.

12:22 PM Jan 31 2009 \| Reply
jimmy33 Guadeloupe	interesting

12:22 PM Jan 31 2009 | Reply

jimmy33

Guadeloupe

interesting

09:14 PM Jan 30 2009 \| Reply
yongchun00 China	thanks a lot . you're so patient . : )

09:14 PM Jan 30 2009 | Reply

yongchun00

China

thanks a lot . you're so patient . : )

06:23 AM Jan 28 2009 \| Reply
single_straight_guy Virgin Islands, U.S.	thanks, hun that was worth being aware of

06:23 AM Jan 28 2009 | Reply

single_straight_guy

Virgin Islands, U.S.

thanks, hun

that was worth being aware of

11:30 AM Jan 27 2009 \| Reply
ch3rrybl0ss0m France	Nikos, why you sound like a teacher,but don't look like a 'decent' teacher :) you're too sexy for a teacher mind to explain :)

11:30 AM Jan 27 2009 | Reply

ch3rrybl0ss0m

France

Nikos, why you sound like a teacher,but don't look like a 'decent' teacher :)

you're too sexy for a teacher

mind to explain :)

10:51 PM Jan 18 2009 \| Reply
Nikos Greece	There is something wrong in the way English is taught here in Greece. Teachers themselves don't care about pronunciation and kids get used to their Greek accented English and often fail the listening part of their English Exam at the end. Or do English for years and when you speak to an American or British for thefirst time, you say "what are they talking about?"

10:51 PM Jan 18 2009 | Reply

Nikos

Greece

There is something wrong in the way English is taught here in Greece. Teachers themselves don't care about pronunciation and kids get used to their Greek accented English and often fail the listening part of their English Exam at the end. Or do English for years and when you speak to an American or British for thefirst time, you say "what are they talking about?"

07:10 AM Jan 09 2009 \| Reply
AnimeGirl Russian Federation	Ohh, I'll said again: thank you very much

07:10 AM Jan 09 2009 | Reply

AnimeGirl

Russian Federation

Ohh, I'll said again: thank you very much

12:35 AM Jan 08 2009 \| Reply
monacovalentina Italy	Great contribution the pronunciation is the week point for the italian people thanks nadia

12:35 AM Jan 08 2009 | Reply

monacovalentina

Italy

Great contribution the pronunciation is the week point for the italian people thanks nadia

10:58 PM Jan 07 2009 \| Reply
almortada Yemen	I would like to thank u U have a wonderful lesson that everyone will get advantages I liked your lesson so much and I'm looking forward to hear alot about u and your really good lessons

10:58 PM Jan 07 2009 | Reply

almortada

Yemen

I would like to thank u

U have a wonderful lesson that everyone will get advantages

I liked your lesson so much and I'm looking forward to hear alot about u and your really good lessons