In American English, words are not pronounced
Vowel & Vowel one by one. Usually, the end of one word
attaches to the beginning of the next word. This
is also true for initials, numbers, and spelling.
T, D, S, or Z & the Y sound Part of the glue that connects sentences is an
underlying hum or drone that only breaks when
you come to a period, and sometimes not even
then. You have this underlying hum in your own
language and it helps a great deal toward
making you sound like a native speaker.
Once you have a strong intonation, you need to
connect all those stairsteps together so that
each sentence sounds like one long word.
The dime.
The dime easier.
They tell me the dime easier.
They tell me the dime easier to understand.
They tell me that I'm easier to understand.
The last two sentences above should be
pronounced exactly the same, no matter how
they are written. It is the sound that is
important, not the spelling.
Consonant & Vowel Words are connected when a words ends in
a consonant sound and the next word starts
with a vowel sound, including the semivowels
W, Y and R. (You can check out the individual
sounds as well: Pronunciation).
Spelling Pronunciation
My name is Ann. [my nay mi zæn]
American accent [amer'k' næksent]
You also use liaisons in spelling and numbers.
Spelling Pronunciation
LA [eh lay]
909-5068 [näi nou näin, fäi vo sick sate]
Consonant & Consonant Words are connected when a word ends in a
consonant sound and the next word starts with
a consonant that is in a similar position.
Lips Behind Teeth Throat
Unvoiced P, F T, Ch, S, Sh K, H
Voiced B, V D, J, Z, Zh G, Ng, R
For example, if a word ends with a letter from
the Behind Teeth category and the next word
starts with a letter from that same category,
these words are going to naturally join together.
This is the same for Lips and Throat.
Spelling Pronunciation
I just didn't get the [I jussdidn't ge(t)the
chance chance]
I've been late twice. [äivbin la(t)twice]
Vowel & Vowel When a word ending in a vowel sound is next
to one beginning with a vowel sound, they are
connected with a glide between the two vowels.
Spelling Pronunciation
Go away. [go(w)away]
I also need the [äi(y)älso need
other one. the(y)other one]
A glide is either a slight [y] sound or a slight [w]
sound. How do you know which one to use?
This will take care of itself--the position your
lips are in will dictate either [y] or [w].
For example, if a word ends in [o], your lips are
going to be in the forward position, so a [w]
quite naturally leads into the next vowel sound:
[Go(w)away].
After a long [e] sound, you lips will be pulled
back far enough to create a [y] glide or liaison:
[I(y)also need the(y)other one]. Don't force this
sound too much, though. It's not a strong
pushing sound.
When the letter or sound of T, D, S or Z is
T, D, S or Z + Y followed by a word that starts with Y, or its
sound, both sounds are connected. These
letters and sounds connect not only with Y, but
they do so as well with the initial unwritten [y]
sound of syllables and words. They form a
combination that changes the pronunciation.
T + Y = CH
Spelling Pronunciation
What's your name? [Whacher name?]
Can't you do it? [Canchoo do it?]
Don't you like it? [Donchoo like it?]
actually [achully]
D+Y=J
Spelling Pronunciation
What did you do? [Whajoo do?]
Would you help me? [Wüjoo help me?]
Did you like it? [Didja like it?]
graduation [graju(w)ation]
S + Y = SH
Spelling Pronunciation
insurance [inshurance]
sugar [shüg'r]
Z + Y = ZH
Spelling Pronunciation
How's your family? [howzher family?]
Who's your friend? [hoozhier friend?]
casual [kazhyoow'l]
usual [yuzhoow'l]
Brainstorm
concise
Taciturn
Practice
Unrehearsed
plan
improvise
Cliché
Epiphany
Depict
Decadent
Gnawing
Morrow
