Speaking: Pronunciation C1
Refining Connected Speech for Natural, Native-like Flow
Listen to the fast, natural dialogue.
From "Robotic" to "Rhythmic" 🎶
At the C1 level, you know the individual words. The challenge is connecting them. Native speakers don't pronounce every single sound. They blend, drop, and add sounds to speak quickly and smoothly. Mastering this is the key to true fluency.
Listen to the audio player above. You will hear the dialogue below, but it will sound very different from how it is written.
Scenario: Making Plans
A: "Did you get the email I sent you?"
B: "I'm not sure. I haven't checked my inbox yet. I was going to do it later."
A: "You should have a look. We need to know what to do next week."
How it really sounds (Simplified):
A: "/dɪdʒə/ get /ði/ email /aɪ/ /sentʃə/?"
B: "I'm /nɒ/ sure. /aɪ/ /hæv(n)/ checked my /ɪmbɒks/ yet. I wuz /gənə/ do it later."
A: "You /ʃʊdəv/ a look. We /niː(d)/ to know /wɒ(t)/ to do /neks/ week."
The 3 Pillars of Fluency (Click 🔊)
To understand and produce this natural flow, you must master three key concepts:
1. Assimilation (Sounds Change)
One sound changes to become more like a nearby sound. This makes it easier to say.
did you→ /dɪdʒu/ ('dijoo')sent you→ /sentʃu/ ('senchoo')have to→ /hæftə/ ('hafta')
2. Elision (Sounds Disappear)
Sounds (especially /t/ and /d/) are often "eaten" or dropped between two other consonants.
next week→ /neks wiːk/ (no /t/)must be→ /mʌs bi/ (no /t/)old man→ /əʊl mæn/ (no /d/)
3. Intrusion (Sounds Appear)
A small sound (/w/, /j/, /r/) is added between two vowel sounds to link them smoothly.
go /w/ awayI /j/ agreelaw /r/ and order
Pronunciation Deep Dive
🗣️ Unreleased Consonants (A type of Elision)
Sometimes, a /t/ or /d/ sound at the end of a word isn't fully dropped, but it's not fully pronounced either. It's "held" or "unreleased." Your tongue moves to the position to make the sound, but you don't release the air.
what now→ You say "wha-" and your tongue touches the top of your mouth for the /t/, but you move straight to "now".need to→ You say "nee-" and hold the /d/ sound, then say "to".
This is extremely common in native speech and is a key difference between B2 and C1/C2 fluency.
Practice Recognizing Connected Speech 🎯
Practice Quiz: How Would a Native Speaker Say It?
Read the written sentence, then choose the option that best represents how it would sound in fast, natural, connected speech. Click "Check Answers" when done.
1. "I want to ask a question."
2. "I m must be crazy."
3. "Where did you go?"
Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)
- Fluency The ability to speak or write a language easily, smoothly, and accurately.
- Assimilation When a speech sound changes to become more like a neighboring sound (e.g., 'did you' becomes 'dijoo').
- Elision The omission or "dropping" of a sound in connected speech (e.g., 'next week' becomes 'neks week').
- Intrusion The "adding" of a small sound (/w/, /j/, /r/) between two vowels to link them.
- Nuance A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.
- Contraction A shortened form of a word or group of words (e.g., 'I am' becomes 'I'm').
- Liaison A general term for the smooth linking of words in speech.
Your Mission: The Shadowing Challenge ⭐
Your mission is to move from *knowing* these rules to *using* them.
- Find a short audio clip (30-60 seconds) of a native speaker in a casual interview or podcast (not a formal news report).
- Listen once just for general understanding.
- Listen again with a transcript (if possible) and try to mark every example of assimilation, elision, and intrusion you hear.
- Practice "shadowing": Play the audio and try to speak along with the speaker, copying their exact rhythm, speed, and connected speech. Don't worry about being perfect; focus on the *flow*.
This is one of the most effective ways to build native-like fluency.