B1 Natural Connected Speech: Recognizing Basic Linking Sounds
Welcome to B1 Natural Speech! We will learn about a key feature of fast, fluent English: linking1. This is how native speakers connect words to speak smoothly. Our first lesson is on the most common type: linking a consonant to a vowel.
1. The Rule of Consonant-Vowel (C-V) Linking
The rule is simple: When a word ends with a consonant2 sound and the next word starts with a vowel3 sound (a, e, i, o, u), the consonant sound "jumps over" to the start of the next word. It sounds like one new, smooth word.
For example, "an apple" isn't pronounced "an... apple." It's linked to sound like "a-napple."
2. Practice Examples
Listen to these examples. Notice how the written words are separate, but the "natural sound" is connected.
| Written Phrase | Listen to the Sentence |
|---|---|
| pick it up | "Please pick it up." |
| an egg | "I would like an egg." |
| what is it | "What is it?" |
| works in an office | "My friend works in an office." |
3. Linking with a Final 's' Sound
This is very common with plurals, possessives, and verbs. The final 's' sound (/s/ or /z/) jumps over to connect with the next vowel.
Written: "His name is..."
Example: "His name is Adam."
Written: "It's a..."
Example: "It's a good idea."
Final Quiz: What Did You Hear?
Listen to the natural speed sentence. Choose the correct written words that match the linked sound.
-
Audio 1: (Listen to the audio)
Which phrase did you hear?
(a) a new umbrella or (b) an old umbrella -
Audio 2: (Listen to the audio)
Which phrase did you hear?
(a) turn it off or (b) turn off -
Audio 3: (Listen to the audio)
Which phrase did you hear?
(a) My name is Oudom. or (b) My name Oudom.
Click to Show Answers
Answers: 1-b, 2-a, 3-a
Homework Task
1. Practice Linking: Say these phrases out loud. Try to link the consonant and vowel sounds so they are smooth, not separate.
- "read a book" (sounds like "rea-da-book")
- "an old friend" (sounds like "a-nold-friend")
- "all of us" (sounds like "allo-vus")
2. Listen for Linking: Find a short, clear English speech on YouTube (like a simple TED Talk). Listen for 1 minute. Can you find at least two examples of consonant-vowel linking?
Vocabulary Glossary
- Linking (noun) - Khmer: ការតភ្ជាប់ - In speech, the smooth connection of the last sound of one word to the first sound of the next word. ↩
- Consonant (noun) - Khmer: ព្យញ្ជនៈ - A speech sound like /b/, /d/, /k/, /s/, /m/, /n/ where the breath is partly blocked. ↩
- Vowel (noun) - Khmer: ស្រៈ - An open speech sound like /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/ where the breath is not blocked. ↩