Connected Speech & Linking in English
Connected Speech & Linking in English
English Pronunciation Lesson
Series on Connected Speech in English
Introduction to Connected Speech & Linking
Connected Speech C + C (consonant + consonant)
Connected Speech C + V (consonant + vowel)
H-deletion in Connected Speech
Connected Speech Practice
Introduction
Many of my students say they want to sound just a native english speaker. I understand the desire, but my answer to them is always the same:
the goal is not to be perfect, but to progress. To be understood when speaking and to be able to understand English when spoken naturally.
One of the most important aspects of pronunciation and listening is to understand that Americans don’t just speak fast, as many students believe, but that they:
connect their words and
change the sounds of words.
Example
“What are you going to do?”
becomes
“Whaddya gonna do?”
Connected speech allows us to speak efficiently, saying the most in the shortest amount of time; and
to speak with flow and music, called rhythm.
In this lesson, we will focus on how Americans link words together.
Remember, understanding the rules of connected speech will not only help you to speak better, but will also help you understand native English speakers.
Consonant + Vowel (C+V)
When a word:
ends in a consonant sound and is
followed by a word that starts with a vowel sound,
the speaker should push that consonant sound forward and connect it to the vowel in the next word.
Example
“Stop it” → *”sto pit” [stÉ‘ pɪt]
“I need it” → *”I nee dit” [É‘iy niy dɪt]
“Play a song” → *”pla ya song” [ple yÉ™ sÉ‘Å‹]
“Read a book” → *”rea da book” [riy dÉ™ bÊŠk]
Consonant + Consonant (C+C)
When a word ends in a consonant sound and the following word begins with the same or similar consonant sound, you will only pronouncing that sound once by lengthening that consonant sound.
You do not need to say that consonant sound twice.
Example
“best time” –> “bestime”
“big grape” –> “bigrape”
“good day” –> “gooday”
“sit down” –> “sitdown” (or “sidown”)
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Got it?Â
Let’s Practice.
Listen and Repeat
“You need to stop it right now.”
*”You needto stopit.”
“I need it more than you do”
*”I needit more than you do.”
“Play a song for us on your guitar!”
*”Playa song forus on your guitar!”
“Read a book for me, mommy.”
*”Read book for me, mommy”
“I had the best time ever!”
*”I had the bestime ever!”
“That was a big grape
*”That was a bigrape I justate!”
“Thanks for coming! Have a good day!”
*”Thanks for coming! Havea a gooday!”
“Please sit down until I call you.”
*”Pleasesitdown untilI call you.”
Using these rules of connected speech along with adding rhythm, and musicality to your speech will help you to be understood by native English speakers.
Series on Connected Speech in English
Introduction to Connected Speech & Linking
Connected Speech C + C (consonant + consonant)
Connected Speech C + V (consonant + vowel)
H-deletion in Connected Speech
Connected Speech Practice
