What is linking?
When we speak naturally we do not pronounce a word, stop, then say the next word in the sentence. Fluent speech flows with a rhythm and the words bump into each other. To make speech flow smoothly the way we pronounce the end and beginning of some words can change depending on the sounds at the beginning and end of those words. Linking is the merging of multiple words together until they sound as if they are only one word.Types of linking:
Blending
Blending is transitioning from the pronunciation of one sound into the next sound. Blending works well for linking from one continuous consonant (a fricative, approximant, or nasal sound) to another different continuous consonant.In the phrase "this month", the s sound /s/ blends smoothly into the m sound /m/.
Coarticulation
Coarticulation occurs when adjacent sounds overlap one another, causing a change in one or both sounds' pronunciation. An example of coarticulation is nasal aspiration.An example of nasal aspiration occurs in the phrase "good news": the air is stopped as a /d/, but released as an /n/.
Assimilation
Assimilation is a more drastic type of coarticulation. The merged sounds are pronounced as an entirely different sound. Two examples of assimilation occur when the t sound /t/ or /d/ precede the y sound /y/.When the /t/ and /y/ assimilate, the sounds merge into the ch sound /ʧ/.
Intrusion
Intrusion is placing an additional sound between other sounds. For example, adding a slight w sound /w/ or /y/ between vowel sounds is a helpful technique for pronouncing both vowels clearly.In the phrase "he asked," a small /y/ is added between the long e /i/ and short a /æ/.
Elision
Elision occurs when a sound is removed from a word. For example, when a /t/ or /d/ is between two other consonant sounds (but not the first sound of a word), the /t/ or /d/ can be omitted.In the phrase "kept going," the /t/ is between two consonant sounds and can be omitted.
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