Linking in Connected Speech

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From the course by University of California, Irvine

Tricky American English Pronunciation

265 ratings

University of California, Irvine

Tricky American English Pronunciation

265 ratings

In this course, you’ll practice the sounds of American English that might sometimes be confusing. You'll practice both consonant and vowel sounds. You’ll also learn about the things that give English its special “music,” such as how to stress the right syllable in a word, how to make your voice go up and down in a natural-sounding melody, and how to naturally connect sounds and words. Learning these things will help you speak more clearly and make sure that others can understand what you're saying. This course is useful for English language learners who want to improve pronunciation of American English for better communication. Note that access to all of the lectures and handouts are free to anyone, but the graded assignments and quizzes are only available in the paid version of the course. You will need to submit recordings of your own pronunciation for graded assignments.

From the lesson

The Music of American English Pronunciation

This week, you’ll learn about some things that give English its special rhythm and melody. You’ll learn about syllables—the small chunks of sound that make up the “beats” in words—and word stress—the way some parts of words are emphasized more than others. You’ll also see how some words become shorter and weaker when we talk. Since these words are used very often in ordinary speaking, we can’t understand spoken English without them. Our goal this week is to help you use the music of English to communicate more effectively and to be understood more easily when you speak. Enjoy learning about the music of American English pronunciation.

Linking in Connected Speech8:08

Linking Connected Speech Practice6:08

Reduced Words6:34

Reduced Words Practice4:25

Meet the Instructors

Tamy Chapman
Instructor, International Programs
University of California Irvine Division of Continuing Education
Marla Yoshida
Academic Coordinator
International Programs
Brad Gilpin

Linking in Connected Speech.

What is linking?

It's one part of connected speech.

A way that words are joined together whenever people speak.

We don't say words separately like beads on a string.

Instead, words are like magnets that stick together so

that you can hardly tell where one ends, and the next one begins.

In linking, words join together and sound like one long word.

Sometimes this makes it hard to understand what people are saying.

But learning about how linking works and getting used to hearing it,

will help you improve your understanding of all kinds of ordinary spoken English.

Anytime words come together inside a thought group,

there's some kind of linking.

The last sound in one word is linked to the first sound on the next word.

Let's look at some cases when linking is especially noticeable.

When two of the same consonant sound come together,

we don't hear two separate sounds.

Instead, we hear one longer sound.

For example, this school,

sounds like this school with a longer [SOUND] sound, this school.

And when we say enough friends, it sounds like,

enough friends, with a longer [SOUND] sound.

Don't worry that the spelling of [SOUND] is different in the two words.

We're talking about sounds, not letters, and the sound is the same,

enough, friends.

Or a fine, name, sounds like a fine name, with a longer [SOUND] sound.

A fine name.

This linking can happen when two popping consonant sounds come together too,

like when we say good dog.

We don't hear two separate [SOUND] sounds,

just one sound that's held longer, good dog.

Linking sometimes also happens when two consonant sounds are similar but

not exactly the same.

Like when we say, good boy.

We don't hear a separate [SOUND] sound in good.

Instead, the [SOUND] in boy lasts longer.

Good boy Now try saying these sentences.

Places with linking of the same or similar sounds are marked.

This city has a fine, new library.

What time do you think Katy will be here?

Big turtles move very slowly.

When two vowel sounds come together,

sometimes we hear a glided sound between them.

When the first word ends in the sounds,

iy, ey, ay, or oy, we hear a [SOUND] sound between them.

For example, three apples sounds like three apples, three apples.

And say anything sounds like say anything.

Say anything.

When the first word ends in the sound uw, ow, or

aw, we hear a [SOUND] sound between them.

For example, two apples sounds like twapples.

And how are you sounds like how are you?

Now, try saying these sentences.

Places where two vowels are linked with a [SOUND] or [SOUND] sound are marked.

I'm glad you do all your homework so often.

At the end of the movie, we'll all go out.

She ate two eggs for breakfast, and he ate three.

When one word ends in a consonant and the next one starts in a vowel, linking

can make it sound like the consonant becomes a part of the following word.

For example, when we say big elephant it sounds like bigelephant.

The [SOUND] sound joins the next word, big elephant.

And when we say run away, it sounds like runaway, run away.

Now try saying these sentences.

Places with linking of a consonant to a following vowel are marked.

I had to wait a while before my job interview.

I can't think of an idea for a new product.

The teachers and students were all enthusiastic.

There's one more kind of linking that happens very often and is very noticeable.

It happens when some sounds have a [SOUND] sound after them,

as in phrases like don't you.

Where we hear a [SOUND] sound, don't you.

Or did you, where we hear a [SOUND] sound when the two words come together.

Did you?

These are the two most common times when sounds change when they come together.

[SOUND] plus [SOUND] becomes [SOUND].

You lost your keys.

I know what you mean.

[SOUND] plus [SOUND] becomes [SOUND].

I had your book.

Did you know that?

These sounds sometimes also change when they come together.

But these changes are less common than the first two.

[SOUND] plus [SOUND] becomes [SOUND].

I'll miss you.

The bus usually comes on time.

[SOUND] plus [SOUND] becomes [SOUND].

Is your homework done already?

Please don't raise your voice.

Now try saying these sentences.

Places that can have the kind of linking we've been practicing are marked.

Can't you come and visit me in California?

What did you think of that concert?

I'll bet you miss your brother, don't you?

Was your cousin cooking hot dogs?

Learning about linking and

sound changes will help you understand spoken English more easily.

Linking is so important.

Don't you agree?

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