Connected speech

Connected speech is joining the last sound and the beginning of a new sound. The most relevant aspect relating to connected speech is with what sound a word ends and with what sound the next word begins. A sound can be either a consonant or a vowel. So, there are four logical possibilities: a vowel ending with a consonant beginning; a vowel ending with a vowel beginning; a consonant ending with a consonant beginning; and a consonant ending with a vowel beginning. Let’s examine each case to learn the types of methods needed for connected speech.

Connected speech

Introduction to Connected Speech

Syllable-timed rhythm vs stress-timed rhythm
Thought groups
Predictable patterns of sound change
Five methods of connected speech

Intrusion

/j/ intrusion
/w/ intrusion

Catenation

Catenation after H dropping
“My seat” vs “mice eat”

Gemination

Continuous consonants

Stops (Plosives)

Affricates

Elision

Elision in function words

H-dropping

Contraction

Pronunciation of contracted words
Negative contractions
Inferring elided sounds
CAN vs CAN’T

Syllable elision

Elision in consonant clusters

-nt, -nd ending in word boundary

Assimilation

Assimilation of voice
Alveolar consonant assimilations

/t/ to /p/ or /k/
/d/ to /b/ or /g/
/n/ to /m/ or /ŋ/

Nasal, lateral plosives
Palatalization

/t/+/j/=/ʧ/
/d/+/j/=/ʤ/
/s/+/j/=/ʃ/
/z/+/j/=/ʒ/