Another effect weak syllables have is that they, many times, are not even pronounced: they become so weak, they just disappear from the speech. We have already seen this in words such as: ret(i)na, moun(t)ain, int(e)resting, p(o)lice, sim(i)lar, etc.
The reason why these syllables drop is to allow for a more fluent speech, especially because the speaker "does not have time to pronounce everything": strong syllables require a considerable amount of time and energy, and that can only be possible if weak syllables get reduced and compensate for the strong ones.
So it seems obvious that if we want to achieve a good fluency in English, we should remember to stress strong syllables and keep some weak syllables in between. But there are other things we can do to improve our fluency.
Blending
When 2 consonants appear across word-boundaries (as in "went to"), only the second consonant is pronounced. This blending process can even happen with different (yet, similar) consonants, such as p-g, t-d, and k-g. Read the following sentences:
Sickness kept Tom home the third week
I have uploaded dozens of files into the server
Keep calm and don't get obsessed about that job
They showed a new implementation of a previous speech system
This can be used to build different systems
He introduced us to his German niece while in Berlin
Are you coming out tonight?
You must tell him the truth
The pharmacist tried to stop the argument
Please, place some of those books on top of the shelf
He has several cars and five yachts
They save very fine jewelry for their children
Very few people like to be alone
Mike couldn't convince Sarah of the opposite
Why don't you help me find a solution for this mess?
They went to the cinema last Tuesday
When did you decide to come here?
Deletion
1) Many English words end with 2 or 3 consonants. When these words are followed by others which also begin with a consonant, the last consonant of the former word is not pronounced. For example: firs(t) three, las(t) plane, can'(t) think, fron(t) building, etc.
Read the following sentences paying attention to those consonants which can get deleted:
It must be 3 o'clock already
He asked you and me to spend a weekend in the mountains
His interest for Shannon disappeared when he met Susan
The Nile is the longest river in the world
The Vatican is the smallest country in the world
The last person to leave can lock the door
IMPORTANT: The last consonant cannot drop if it is a suffix: plural, past, comparative, etc. otherwise the entire sense of the sentence would be truncanted.
2) An important (and very unknown) case of deletion happens with some specific pronouns that begin with /h/: him, her, and also with "have". When these words are preceded by another word that ends with a consonant, native speakers tend to omit the /h/. For example:
I told (h)er about it = tolder
Please, ask (h)im to arrive early today = askim
You shouldn't (h)ave done that horrible thing = shouldn'tav
Read the following sentences:
She bought him a ticket before the concert began
I would have known he was coming
Please, let her go, she is innocent
Tomorrow we'll ask him to tell us about it
You could have warned me!
I like her very much
Sickness kept Tom home the third week
I have uploaded dozens of files into the server
Keep calm and don't get obsessed about that job
They showed a new implementation of a previous speech system
This can be used to build different systems
He introduced us to his German niece while in Berlin
Are you coming out tonight?
You must tell him the truth
The pharmacist tried to stop the argument
Please, place some of those books on top of the shelf
He has several cars and five yachts
They save very fine jewelry for their children
Very few people like to be alone
Mike couldn't convince Sarah of the opposite
Why don't you help me find a solution for this mess?
They went to the cinema last Tuesday
When did you decide to come here?
Deletion
1) Many English words end with 2 or 3 consonants. When these words are followed by others which also begin with a consonant, the last consonant of the former word is not pronounced. For example: firs(t) three, las(t) plane, can'(t) think, fron(t) building, etc.
Read the following sentences paying attention to those consonants which can get deleted:
It must be 3 o'clock already
He asked you and me to spend a weekend in the mountains
His interest for Shannon disappeared when he met Susan
The Nile is the longest river in the world
The Vatican is the smallest country in the world
The last person to leave can lock the door
IMPORTANT: The last consonant cannot drop if it is a suffix: plural, past, comparative, etc. otherwise the entire sense of the sentence would be truncanted.
2) An important (and very unknown) case of deletion happens with some specific pronouns that begin with /h/: him, her, and also with "have". When these words are preceded by another word that ends with a consonant, native speakers tend to omit the /h/. For example:
I told (h)er about it = tolder
Please, ask (h)im to arrive early today = askim
You shouldn't (h)ave done that horrible thing = shouldn'tav
Read the following sentences:
She bought him a ticket before the concert began
I would have known he was coming
Please, let her go, she is innocent
Tomorrow we'll ask him to tell us about it
You could have warned me!
I like her very much
No comments:
Post a Comment