Connecting and Linking
When British people speak, they connect words together, not only by using the linking / r /.
Examples :
We always end up over at Adam’s pub.
(Wih-yohwei-zen-du-pouvi-ri-tadimz pub)
How old are you?
(Hau-(w)ouldi-yoo)
Connected Speech
When a word ends in a consonant and the next starts with a vowel sound, we link.
Example :
The window’s wide open.
(Thi-windouz-waidoupin)
TIPS
As a trick, and to practise this, just imagine that the last letter of the preceding word becomes the first letter of the next word—if that word starts with a vowel.
wide open (wi-dopen)
end up (en-dup)
always end up (alway-zen-dup)
Do not leave big spaces between words—this will greatly improve speech flow.
It is very important to note that connected speech alters the sound of the last letter of the word if it is voiced, and the next word starts with a voiceless sound.
Examples :
club We went to the club to meet some friends.
[clup]
The /b/ in ‘club’ is a voiced consonant, but followed by /t/ in ‘to’ (a voiceless consonant), it will turn into a voiceless /p/ sound.
played He played tennis yesterday.
[playt]
Likewise, the /d/ in ‘played’ is a voiced consonant, but followed by /t/ in ‘tennis,’ it will turn into a voiceless /t/ sound.
Intrusive /w/ and /y/
You already know about the intrusive /r/ that we add when a word ends in /a/ (the schwa sound) or in /aw/ (the /oh/ɔ:/ sound), and the next word starts with a vowel sound (see section, The Intrusive /r/). We do something similar with words ending in other vowel sounds than those just mentioned. We also add a /w/ or /y/ sound in between two words when one ends with a vowel or vowel sound and the next word starts with a vowel or vowel sound.
We add a /w/ sound if the lips are rounded after the first word.
Examples :
Go out (GoWout)
Who is this (WhoWis this)
Go away (GoWaway)
If the lips are wide at the end of the first word, we insert a /y/ sound.
Examples :
I asked (IYasked)
I am (IYam)
Very unlikely (VeryYunlikely)
TIP
Even when not directly linking words, use ‘gap avoidance’ to avoid unnecessary gaps and pauses. Do not leave big spaces between words. This will help speech flow.
Bonus Exercises
Linking Consonants with Vowels
The following text contains all the consonants/consonant sounds covered in this course. These consonants are in final position of words, followed directly by words starting in various vowels. This provides an opportunity to practise linking every one of the consonant sounds with various vowels.
Bob and Tim and all of the other amazing and successful men of the King and Queen’s order of Royal England live in an old and awfully overcrowded but very large arched house. The buzz of the emotions and feelings one goes through in these walls is indescribably amazing and helps to soothe and make all the pain experienced in battle and war go away. A lot of the shock and horror is relived at night, when hearing the distant pop of gunshots in the distance. One wishes to be able to turn the sound off and go back to sleep easily under the smooth and cozy cloth our officers gave us. The situation is touch and go but full of hope and courage in the face of overwhelming evil and one notch in our gun barrels closer to doom.
Intrusive /w/ and /y/
Intrusive /w/
go in go out go off go over
stow away throw away throw out blow over
blow away lo and behold
Intrusive /y/
fly away fly off fly over
tie off I ordered I answered
absolutely amazing completely overwhelmed
very interesting honey and mustard