Chapter 2 Word Connection

Liaisons the connections between words ,which allow us to speak in sound group rather than in individual words

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It is the sound that is important ,not the spelling

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Words are connected in four main situations:

1 consonant/vowel

2 consonant/consonant

3 vowel/vowel

4 T D S or Z+Y

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Liaison rule 1:consonant /vowel

Words are connected when a words ends in a consonant sound and the next word stars with a vowel sound, including the semivowels W Y and R

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What the difference between a vowel and a consonant?

In pronunciation ,a consonant touches at some point in the mouth .

A vowel ,on the other hand ,doesn’t touch anywhere.

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Liaison rule 2 consonant/consonant:

Words are connected when a word ends in a consonant sound and the next word stars a consonant that is in a? similar position.

The sound of TH is a special case.

When the TH combination connects with certain sounds, the two sounds blend together form a composite .

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Liaison rule 3:vowel /vowel

When a word ending in a vowel sound is next to one beginning in a vowel sound ,they are connected with a glide between the two vowels A glide is either a slight [y] sound or slight [w] sound.

Add a (y) glide after an [e] sound ,and a (w) glide after an [u] sound.

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Liaison rule 4:T D S or Z+Y

When the letter or sound of T D S T or Z is followed by a word that starts with Y ,or its sound ,both sounds are connected .

These letters and sounds connect not only with Y ,but they do so as well with the initial unwritten [y]

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These letters and sounds connect not only with Y ,but they do so as well with the initial unwritten [y]

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Additional liaison practice

Use these techniques on texts of your own and in conversation

1 take some written material and mark the intonation ,then the word groups, and finally the liaisons

2 practice saying it out loud

3 record yourself and listen back

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Colloquial reductions and liaisons