Linking

5 Main connected speech features

1. Catenation (linking words – consonant to vowel)

   Linking consonant to vowel: connect the final consonant in the first word to the vowel that starts the next word. This will make it sound like the second word starts with a consonant.

2. Intrusion (adding an extra sound)

   Linking vowel to vowel: when the first word finishes in a vowel sound and the next word starts with a vowel sound, connect the 2 words and add an extra sound. The three sounds added are /w/, /r/ or /j/. /j/ sounds like the ‘y’ in year, yes, yo-yo, or other words start with letter ‘u’ as in use, unique and uno.

3. Elision (omitting a sound)

   If the first word finishes in a consonant sound and the next word starts with a consonant sound, the first sound disappears. This often happens with a /t/ or /d/ sound. For example, don’t know (the ‘t’ will be blocked and unreleased)

4. Assimilation (joining sounds to make a new sound)

   Sometimes when two consonant sounds are joined, it is very difficult to pronounce the new sound. A combined sound is made instead. This often happens with /t/ and /j/ which make /ʧ/. The consonant sound /ʧ/ can be found in ‘church’, ‘chill’, and ‘search’ etc. It also happens with /d/ and /j/ which make /ʤ/. The consonant sound /ʤ/ can be found in ‘jam’, ‘judge’, ‘edge’, ‘age’ etc.

5. Geminates (twin consonants)

   Gemini comes from the Latin geminī, plural of geminus, meaning “twin.” Geminates mean two of the same consonant sounds back-to-back. When a word ends with a consonant and starts with the same consonant in the next word, you should connect the two words in your speech. In this connection, the sound of that letter is uttered once only.