Vocabulary: Slang, Informal & Colloquial English (B2) - Lesson 3: Understanding Common Spoken Reductions

Lesson 3: Understanding Common Spoken Reductions How Native Speakers Really Talk Have you ever listened to a native speaker and felt they were talking too fast? The secret isn't just speed; it's reduction . In natural speech, unimportant, unstressed words get "squashed" or reduced to connect the important, stressed words. Understanding these reductions is one of the biggest keys to improving your listening comprehension. Key Vocabulary Reduction (noun) | ការកាត់បន្ថយសំឡេង The process of shortening or weakening a sound when speaking naturally. Stressed (adjective) | សង្កត់សំឡេង A word or syllable that is pronounced with greater force or emphasis. Unstressed (adjective) | មិនសង្កត់សំឡេង A word or syllable that is pronounced without force or emphasis, and is often reduced. IMPORTANT: Reductions are for SPEAKING and LISTENING. Do not use these forms in formal writing. Some are okay for very informal texting with friends. Common Reductions in Spoken English Let's look at some common …