La fonética del inglés y su

didáctica
Curso 2021/22
 CONNECTED SPEECH
 SIGNIFICANT CONNECTED SPEECH PHENOMENA IN ENGLISH

1. ELISION

2. ASSIMILATION

3. LIAISON or LINKING

4. WEAK FORMS
 1. ELISION

 Definition: elision implies the omission or partial realization of

any speech sound. Usual occurrences:

1. n d/ l d before consonant
stand back /ˈstæn(d) ˈbæk/
old man /ˈəʊɫ(d) ˈmæn/

2. f t /s t before consonant
left behind /ˈlef(t) bɪˈhaɪnd/
last month /ˈla(:)s(t) ˈmʌn̪ θ
next week /ˈneks(t) ˈwi(:)k/
1. ELISION
3. Consonant + /t/ (-ed) before consonant

touched me /ˈtʰʌtʃ(t) mi:/

stopped crying /ˈstɒ(p)(t) ˈkr̥ aɪŋ/

4. 2 plosives together: suppressed release

The first plosive is partially produced, so it is not a complete

elision

take care /tʰeɪ(k) kʰeə/

 2. ASSIMILATION
Definition: the contamination of an original sound by any next
to it.

This is a topic that the ordinary EFL user needn’t much worry about
because practically all the cases of assimilation that arise in
connected speech are optional.

The only important thing for the EFL user to remember is not to
artificially slow down articulation with proper fluent rhythm. If you
don’t feel comfortable producing an assimilation example, don’t do
it.
2. ASSIMILATION
Common examples of assimilation in connected speech:

1. /z/ + voiceless cons = /s/

These cakes /ði:z s ˈkʰeɪks/

2. /z/ + /j/ = /ʒ/

Tom gives you /’thɒm ‘gɪvz ju: ‘gɪvʒu:/

3. /s/ +/ʃ/ = /ʃ/

bus shelter /’bʌs ʃ ‘ʃeɫtə/

4. /s/ + /j/ = /ʃ/

This young man /ðɪs ‘j ʃʌŋ ‘mæn/

2. ASSIMILATION

5. /n/ + bilabials [/p/ /b/ /m/] = /m/

Ten minutes /’tʰen m ‘mɪnɪts/

6. /n/ + velar consonant = /ŋ/

ten girls /’then ŋ gɜ:ɫz/

7. /n/+ /f/ or /v/= /ɱ/

Examples: on fire /ɒn ɱ ‘faɪə/

in vain / ɪn ɱ ‘veɪn/
 2. ASSIMILATION

8. /t/ + /j/= /tʃ/

I want you /aɪ ‘wɒnt ju: ‘wɒntʃu:/

Don’t you /’dəʊntʃu:/

9. /d/ +/j/→/dʒ/

Would you like /wʊd j→dʒuː ˈlaɪk/

3. LIAISON (LINKING)
Definition: this phenomenon is the linking to a following word
of a preceding one by the use of 3 main proceedings:

- A final sound which is not present in the isolate form of the

first word (linking r) is used for the link

Your eyes / jɔː ͜ ɾ ’aɪz /

- The final consonant of the first word links to the initial

vowel of the second word

I ‘ve just met a girl / aɪv ‘dʒʌs(t) ‘met ͜ ə ‘gɜɫ/

3. LIAISON (LINKING)
- When the final sound of the first word is a vowel and
the initial sound of the second word is a vowel too,
glides are used for the linking

The ice has melted /ðɪ ͜ ‘aɪs həz ‘meɫtɪd/

- j

Now I’m going to /naʊ ͜ aɪm ‘gəʊɪŋ/

w
 4. WEAK FORMS
 Definition: a weak form can be defined as an alternative form
of a word so reduced in its articulation, that it consists of a
different set of phonemes. These words are vey important for
the EFL user because such weak forms of words can affect the
style or meaning of an expression. In some particular
examples, a failure to use weak forms can even cause
misunderstandings.

 Some examples:

Bread and butter

/’bred æn(d) ‘bʌtə / (bread and butter separately)

/’bred ən(d) ‘bʌtə / (toast)

4. WEAK FORMS
The present I am giving him is a painting that I shall have
done by Christmas

/hæv/ causative verb

/hə v/ aux. verb

Which train are you taking?

/’twentɪtu: ‘ten/ 22.10 (24h system)

/’twentɪ tə ‘ten/ 9.40 (12h system)