Speaking: Pronunciation B1 - Lesson 1
Introduction to Connected Speech (Linking Sounds)
By the end of this lesson, you will understand the basic rules of connected speech and be able to use linking to make your speaking sound smoother and more natural.
Why Do Native Speakers Talk So Fast?
Have you ever felt that native English speakers talk too fast? The secret is not just speed; it's connected speech1. Instead of pronouncing every word separately, fluent speakers join, or "link," words together into smooth groups.
Mastering linking2 is one of the most important steps to sounding more fluent. There are three basic rules:
- Rule 1 (Consonant linking to Vowel): "I'd like an‿apple." (Sounds like "a-napple")
- Rule 2 (Vowel linking to Vowel): "You should go‿out now." (Sounds like "go-wout")
- Rule 3 (Consonant linking to same Consonant): "I want a hot tea." (One /t/ sound, not two)
Key Pronunciation Terms
- Connected Speech: The way words are joined together in natural, fluent speech to create a smooth sound: ការនិយាយភ្ជាប់ពាក្យ ↩
- Linking: A key part of connected speech where the end of one word joins to the beginning of the next word: ការភ្ជាប់សម្លេង ↩
- Consonant: A speech sound like /b/, /t/, /k/, /s/ where the airflow is blocked in some way: ព្យញ្ជនៈ ↩
- Vowel: A speech sound like /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/ where the airflow is open: ស្រៈ ↩
Pronunciation Focus: The Three Rules of Linking
Rule 1: Consonant ➞ Vowel (C-V)
This is the most common rule. When a word ends with a consonant3 sound and the next word starts with a vowel4 sound, they link together. The consonant sound moves to the next word.
- "turn‿off" sounds like "tur-noff"
- "read‿it" sounds like "rea-dit"
- "an‿apple" sounds like "a-napple"
Rule 2: Vowel ➞ Vowel (V-V)
When a word ends in a vowel and the next word starts with a vowel, we add a small, invisible linking sound (/j/ or /w/) to make it smooth.
- After /iː/ or /aɪ/ sounds (like in "see", "I", "my"), we add a small /j/ sound (like 'y').
"I‿am" sounds like "I-yam"; "see‿it" sounds like "see-yit" - After /uː/ or /oʊ/ sounds (like in "you", "go", "do"), we add a small /w/ sound.
"go‿out" sounds like "go-wout"; "do‿it" sounds like "do-wit"
Rule 3: Consonant ➞ Same Consonant (C-C)
When a word ends in a consonant sound and the next word begins with the same sound, we don't say the sound twice. We say it once, but hold it a little longer.
- "hot tea" sounds like "ho-tea" (one long /t/)
- "big garden" sounds like "bi-garden" (one long /g/)
- "I don't want to" sounds like "I don't wan-to"
How Linking Affects Listening
Understanding linking is a "secret key" to improving your listening skills. Often, you don't understand native speakers because your brain is waiting for separate words, but the speaker is producing linked sounds.
When you hear "whaddaya-do", your brain might be looking for the words "what", "do", and "you". If you know about linking, you can recognize the sound and understand faster. Practice producing these sounds yourself, and you will start to hear them everywhere!
Practice Linking
Activity 1: Mark the Links
Read the sentences below. Where does the linking happen? What type of linking is it?
- She lives in‿a big‿apartment. (C-V linking)
- Do I need‿a ticket? (C-V linking)
- I don't want to go‿out. (V-V linking)
- I want to sit in the back car. (C-C linking)
Activity 2: Read the Linked Phrases Aloud
Practice saying these common linked phrases smoothly. Don't pause between the words.
- pick it up (pi-ki-tup)
- turn it on (tur-ni-ton)
- an orange (a-norange)
- go away (go-waway)
Your Pronunciation Mission
This week in Siem Reap, your mission is to practice Consonant-Vowel (C-V) linking, as it's the most common type.
Find three examples in your own speaking. For example, instead of saying "I am... in... a class", practice saying it smoothly: "I'm‿in‿a class." Record yourself and listen for the smooth connections.