Connected Speech: Assimilation, Elision & Intrusion | English Pronunciation

Summary

In this video, Billy explains the concept of connected speech, where sounds flow seamlessly in natural conversation without clear boundaries between words. He covers three key features: assimilation (where sounds change to become more similar), illusion (where sounds are lost), and intrusion (where extra sounds are added for smoother speech). Billy provides multiple examples, breaking down how certain words transform when spoken quickly and naturally. He also explains terms like vowel reduction and phonetic changes, helping viewers understand how connected speech works and encouraging practice with various sentences.

Takeaways

• 😀 Connected speech refers to the continuous flow of sounds in spoken language, with no clear boundaries between words.
• 😀 When we speak naturally, words often sound different in sentences than when spoken in isolation.
• 😀 In connected speech, three key processes occur: assimilation, elision, and intrusion.
• 😀 Assimilation happens when sounds change to become more similar to nearby sounds, making speech more fluid.
• 😀 Elision refers to sounds being dropped, especially in fast speech, such as dropping the 't' or 'd' at the end of words.
• 😀 Intrusion is the addition of a sound, like a 'w' or 'r', to link words together smoothly and avoid pauses.
• 😀 Assimilation can be seen in examples like 'in Barcelona' becoming 'im Barcelona' due to the blending of sounds.
• 😀 Elision is common when final consonant sounds like 't' or 'd' are lost, as in 'He looked back and smiled'.
• 😀 Intrusion helps maintain the rhythm of speech, such as in phrases like 'go away' or 'law and order'.
• 😀 When analyzing connected speech, pay attention to how sounds are lost, added, or altered to maintain natural flow and efficiency in conversation.

Q & A

What is connected speech?

Connected speech refers to the continuous stream of sounds in spoken language where there are usually no clear boundaries between words, resulting in changes in the pronunciation of words when they appear in a sentence.

What are the main features of connected speech?

The main features of connected speech are assimilation (where sounds become more similar to adjacent sounds), illusion (where sounds are deleted), and intrusion (where sounds are added to link words).

What is assimilation in connected speech?

Assimilation occurs when a sound changes to become more similar to a neighboring sound. For example, 'in' followed by 'Barcelona' becomes 'im Barcelona' due to the similarity in mouth positioning.

Can you give an example of assimilation?

An example of assimilation is the phrase 'I live in Barcelona', where 'in' becomes 'im' because of the 'b' sound that follows in 'Barcelona'.

What is illusion in connected speech?

Illusion refers to the loss of sounds, typically the final 't' or 'd' in a word, when spoken quickly. For example, 'He looked back and smiled' becomes 'He look back and smiled', where the 't' sound in 'looked' is dropped.

Can you explain intrusion in connected speech?

Intrusion involves the addition of sounds to link words together smoothly. For example, the addition of a 'w' sound in 'go away' makes it sound like 'g'wa' when spoken quickly.

What sound is commonly intruded between words in connected speech?

The sounds 'w', 'j' (a 'y' sound), and 'r' are commonly intruded to link words in connected speech. These help make speech faster and more fluid.

What is the role of assimilation, illusion, and intrusion in natural speech?

These features help speech flow more naturally and quickly, reducing pauses and making it easier to understand in real-time conversation. They allow speakers to blend words seamlessly.

How does assimilation affect the pronunciation of the word 'one boat'?

In the phrase 'one boat', the 'one' ending in 'n' and 'boat' starting with a 'b' sound leads to assimilation, making 'one boat' sound like 'wun boat'.

What happens in the sentence 'I should go' in terms of connected speech?

In the sentence 'I should go', the word 'should' changes to 'shud' due to assimilation, making it sound like 'I shud go' when spoken quickly.