Connected speech

Question 1

Aspects of connected speech

Answer 1

1. rhythm
2. glottal stop
3. assimilation
4. elision
5. linking (liaison)

Question 2

What is connected speech?

Answer 2

• Differences between the pronunciation of words in their isolated forms and their pronunciation in connected speech
• certain words are lost, and certain phonemes linked together as we attempt to get our message across
• Economy of articulatory effort

Question 3

Glottal stop

Answer 3

• ‘a momentary stop of the airstream. This is caused by closing the gap between the vocal cords
• a cough-like explosive sound
• transcribed as [ʔ]

Question 4

Glottaling or glottal replacement where?

Answer 4

• The most pronounced use of the glottal stop can be found in Cockney English

Question 5

No glottal stop

Answer 5

• In English an initial vowel attracts the previous sound to it
• Sometimes the /j/, /w/ or /r/ has to be added
• not in words like FBI, CIA, PhD

Question 6

Linking (liaison)

Answer 6

• The linking of words in speech when the second word begins with a vowel

Question 7

Linking patters

Answer 7

• consonant to vowel
• vowel + /r/ + vowel
• vowel + /j/ + vowel
• vowel + /w/ + vowel

Question 8

Linking /r/

Answer 8

• The phoneme /r/ does not occur in syllable-final position in RP, but when a spelling of a word suggest a final /r/ and a word beginning with a vowel follows, the usual pronunciation is with /r/
• example: We’ve been waiting for◡/r/◡ an hour◡/r/◡ and◡a half

Question 9

Intrusive /r/

Answer 9

• RP speakers often use /r/ in a similar way to link words ending with a vowel, even when there is no “justification” from the spelling
• example: that man I saw over there -> that man I saw ◡/r/◡ over there

Question 10

vowel + /j/ + vowel

Answer 10

• Link vowels /i:/, /ɪ/, /eɪ, /aɪ/, /ɔɪ/ to a following vowel using /j/
• examples:
• very◡/j/◡ interesting
• I always◡enjoy◡/j/◡ a lovely◡/j/◡ ice cream.

Question 11

vowel + /w/ + vowel

Answer 11

• Link vowels /u:/, /Əʊ/, /aʊ/ to a following vowel using /w/
• examples:
• I couldn’t do◡/w/◡ anything◡about it.
• You◡/w/◡ always say that.

Question 12

Elision

Answer 12

• Under certain circumstances sounds disappear -> a phoneme may be realised as zero, or have zero realisation or be deleted
• Typical of rapid, causal speech
• ELISION of identical consonants (sharp pencil, Please stop pushing)
• /t/ and /d/ elided at the end of words (I don know, I dunno)

Question 13

Some types of elision

Answer 13

1. Loss of weak vowel after /p/, /t/, /k/ (potato, tomato, canary, perhaps)
2. Weak vowel + /n/, /l/, /r/ becomes syllabic consonant
3. Avoidance of complex consonant clusters

Question 14

Syllabic consonant

Answer 14

• A syllabic consonant is a consonant that forms a syllable on its own
• The symbol of a syllabic consonant is a small vertical line below (as in n̩ )
• examples:
• tonigh /tn̩aɪt/
• police /pl̩iːs/
• correct /kr̩ekt/

Question 15

Assimilation

Answer 15

• Sounds belonging to one word can cause changes in sounds belonging to neighbouring words
• Found in rapid, casual speech and less likely in slow, careful speech
• Cf = final consonant
• Ci = initial consonant

Question 16

Types of assimilation

Answer 16

1. regressive assimilation
2. progressive assimilation
3. Coalescence

Question 17

Regressive assimilation

Answer 17

• Cf changes to become like Ci
• common in Czech

Question 18

Progessive assimilation

Answer 18

• Ci changes to become like Cf

Question 19

Coalescence

Answer 19

• Two features or segments merge into one feature -> the fusion of two different sounds
• Found in casual speech at word boundaries
• /t/ + /j/ -> /tʃ/ e.g. what◡you want
• /d/ + /j/ -> /dʒ/ e.g. Would◡you?
• /s/ + /j/ -> /ʃ/ e.g. in case◡you need it
• /z/ + /j/ -> /ʒ/ e.g. Has◡your letter come?