Pronunciation

American English speakers tend to "run" or connect some words together.  They don’t say them separately as is done in some languages.  It is important that the non-native speaker can recognize this and learn how to listen so they can understand what is being said.  Usually the end of one word connects or ‘links’ to the next word.  The rhythm of the sentence and the intonation help the listener determine the meaning.  Once you learn to link your words, and have the intonation on phrases that a native speaker does, you will be very close to sounding like a native speaker yourself.  Remember, it is the sound that is important—not the spelling in speaking English.  When you have mastered "linking" you will not only understand spoken American English more easily, others will understand you more easily also.

Vowels and Consonants

Note:  These are the letters.  The sounds may not be the same.  For example:  "x" sometimes sounds like "ehks" (x-ray), sometimes like "ks" (fax), and sometimes like "z" (xylophone). “Y” sometimes sounds like long "e" (tiny), sometimes like long "a" (pray).  Other examples: 

threw ends in the letter "w", but the sound is  a long "u"

hour starts with an "h", but sounds like it starts with an "o"

knowledge starts with a "k", but sounds like an "n"

rough ends with an "h", but sounds like "f"

There are four ways we connect or ‘link’ words in American English:

Vowel-to-Vowel: 

If one word ends with a vowel sound and the next word begins with a vowel sound, we need to connect them with a slight "w" or "y" sound.  Your voice will kind of slide into the next word.  Don’t worry about which sound to make, the position of your lips when ending one word will automatically give the right slide.

• Is Joe avoiding me?                       (jo(w)avoiding.)  Listen to the soft ‘w’--almost like ‘jo wa voiding.’

• I only want the one that’s red.     (I (y)only, the(y)one)  Hear the ‘y’?  ‘Ieee only. . .theeeee one’.

Don’t try to force these connecting sounds.  They are not clear, distinct, strong sounds.

Watch yourself in a mirror or work with a partner and see the shape of your lips as you read these phrases.   If the lips are round at the end of the first word, a "w" sound will join with the next word.  If the lips are more stretched at the corners at the end of the first word, a "y" sound will be the connecting sound. 

• Two oranges                               twoWoranges

• Do it                                             doWit

• Who is                                         whoWis

• So am I                                        soWam I

• We asked                                    weYasked

• Pele is                                          peleYis

• the effort                                     theYeffort

If it is two schwas ("uh" sounds) you do not use the "w" or "y" sound.  Just hold the "uh" sound a bit longer: mega awful (meg uuuh ful)

Consonant-to-Vowel:

If a word ends in a consonant sound, and the following word begins with a vowel sound, we usually carry the consonant over to the beginning of the following word.  Be careful!  It’s the sound that matters, not the letter.

• My name is Annie.                        my nam-mis-sannie

• Can I have a drink?                       ca-ni hava drink?

• This is an antique hourglass.      this-sis-san nanti-kour glass.

Consonant-to-Consonant:

When you have a word ending with a consonant immediately before a word beginning with a consonant, they are only linked when the consonants are pronounced with the lips and tongue in similar positions.  The "unvoiced" consonant almost fades away; in fact, sometimes you can’t hear it at all! 

For example:  p, f, b, v are all formed with the lips.  p and f are unvoiced, b and v are voiced.

• Mrs. Jackson thought the neighbor had a plump baby.             plum(p)baby.

• The knife belongs to Jim Bowie.                                                 ni(f)belongs

t, s, sh, ch, d, z, zh, j are all formed behind the teeth.  t, s, sh, ch are unvoiced, d, z, zh, j are voiced.

• What a fat dog!                                          wata fa(t) dog!

• She just doesn’t understand!                   jus doesn’t

k, h, g, ng, and r are formed in the throat.  k and h are unvoiced, g, ng, and r are voiced.

• Take Raymond home please.                  ta(k)raymond

• Is the cake gone?                                        ca(k)gone?

D, S, T, and Z before a Y:

When any of these consonants or their sounds comes before a "y" or a "y" sound, the combined pronunciation of the letters is changed.

D and Y are pronounced with a ‘J’ sound:

• Could you call me later?                          cujoo call me. . .

• graduate                                                      graju(w)ate

• Did you win the game?                            didja win. . .

•  Should yams be fried?                             shujams be fried?

 S and Y are pronounced with an ‘SH’ sound:

• sure                                                            shure

• conscious                                                  con-shus

• insured                                                      in-shur’d

 T and Y are pronounced with a‘CH’ sound:

•  Can’t you?                                               canchoo?

• nurture                                                      nurcher

• virtual                                                       verchoo’l

• What’s your question?                           whatcher question?

Z and Y are pronounced with a ‘ZH’ sound: 

• usually                                                      yuzhoow’ly

• Where’s your sister?                               wherzhier sister?

• How’s your job?                                      howzher job?

TIP:  We only connect words within a thought group.

• When everyone is asleep, / we will play some music.

• Tell us Sam, / did you find the entrance?

Relaxed pronunciation, or word slurring,  is when the syllables of words are run together in speech beyond the usual ways listed above.  Native speakers of any language tend to do this slurring, especially when speaking rapidly.  Word slurring is not the same as contractions (isn't, aren't, won't, etc.).  Contractions are acceptable and considered standard English (except in very formal or academic speaking or writing), but word slurring is considered NONstandard and even uneducated speech.  So although this may be used in a very casual setting with friends, DO NOT use it when interviewing for a job, or any other situation where you want to make a good impression.  If you speak more slowly, you can avoid slurring.  Below are a few examples of common phrases the way they sound when relaxed pronunciation is used. 

Can you understand these sentences written as they sound in American English?