WORD CONNECTIONS

(Liaisons)

Read the ff. sentences. The last two sentences should be pronounced exactly the same, no matter how they are written. It is the sound that is important, not the spelling.

The dime. The dime easier. They tell me the dime easier. They tell me the dime easier to understand. They tell me that Im easier to understand.

Words are connected in 4 main situations:

1. Consonant / Vowel 2. Consonant/ Consonant 3. Vowel/ Vowel 4. T, D, S, or Z + Y

Liaison Rule # 1: Consonant Vowel

Words are connected when a word ends in a
consonant sound and the next word starts with a vowel sound, including the semivowels W,Y and R. Examples: My name is (my nay-miz) because Ive (bkziv) pick up on the American Intonation (pi-k pn the(y) merk nint nshn)

Spelling and Number Connections

You also use the liaison in spelling and
numbers. LA (Los Angeles) eh-lay 902-5050 nai-no-too fai-vo-fai-vo

Vowel vs Consonant

In pronunciation, a consonant
touches at some point in the mouth. A vowel on the other hand doesnt touch anywhere. (That is why W,Y,R anre semivowels, or glides.)

Consonant/Vowel Liaison Practice

Connect the following words. On personal pronouns, it is common to drop the H. Ex. Hold on turn over tell her I miss her hol don tur nover tellerI misser

Exercises:
1. read only 2. fall off 3. follow up on 4. come in 5. call him 6. sell it 7. take out 8. fade away 9. 6 0 10. MA
_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________

Liason Rule 2: Vowel/Vowel

When a word ending in a vowel sound is
next to one beginning with a vowel sound, they are connected with a glide between the two vowels. A glide is wither a slight (y) sound or a slight (w) sound. How do you know which one to use? This will take care of itself- the position your lips are in will dictate either (y) or (w).

 Go away. Go (w) away. I also need the other one.

I (y) also need thee (y) other one. If a word, end in (o) your lips are going to be in the forward position., so a (w) quite naturally leads into the next vowel sound

Exercise
Add a (y) glide after an (e) sound, and a (w) glide after an (u) sound. 1. Go anywhere _______________ 2. So honest 3. Through our 4. You are 5. He is 6. Do I? 7. I asked 8. To open 9. She always 10. Too often

Liaison Rule 3: Consonant/Consonant

Words are connected when a word ends in
a consonant sound and the next word starts with a consonant that is in a similar position What is a similar position?

3 Main Positions
The Lips Behind the Teeth In the Throat

Consonants with similar position

Behind the teeth
unvoiced voiced

In the throat
unvoiced voiced

At the Lips
unvoiced voiced

t ch s sh -

d j l n z zh y

k h -

g ng r

p f -

b v m w

Consonant/Consonant Examples

I just didnt get the chance [ I- jusdidnt ge(t)the-cahnce.] Ive been late twice. [ Ivbinla(t)twice.]

Liaison Rule 4: T,D,S,or Z +Y

When the letter or sound of T, D, S, 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 woth the initial unwritten [y].

T + Y = CH
Whats your name? Cant you do it? actually Dont you like it? Wouldnt you? [ wchr name] [knt chew do(w)it] [k-chully] [dont chew lye kit] [wooden chew]

Havent you? No, not yet. [hven chew?nou,n chet

Ill let you know.

Can I get you a drink?

[Ill let cha know]

[kni getchew drink ]

T + Y = CH
We thought you werent coming Ill bet you ten buck he forgot. Is that your final answer? natural perpetual virtual

[ we th chew wrnt kming] [l betcha ten buxee frgt] [is thchr finln sr] [nchr l] [perpech (w) l] [vrch (w) l

T + Y = CH
[ wchr name] [knt chew do(w)it] [k-chully] [dont chew lye kit] [wooden chew] [hven chew?nou,n chet [Ill let cha know] [kni getchew drink ]

T + Y = CH
[ we th chew wrnt kming] [l betcha ten buxee frgt] [is thchr finln sr] [nchr l] [perpech (w) l] [vrch (w) l

Whats you name? Cant you do it?

actually Dont you like it?

Wouldnt you?

Havent you? No, not yet. Ill let you know.

Can I get you a drink?

We thought you werent coming

Ill bet you ten buck he forgot. Is that your final answer? natural perpetual virtual

D+Y=J
Did you see it? How did you like it?

didj see(y)it ho j lye kit

Could you tell?

Where did you send your check? What did your family think?

Did you find your keys?

We followed your instructions. Congratulations! Education individual graduation gradual

Kj tell wrj senjr check Wjer fmlee think didj fine jer keez
We fllow jerin strctionz Kngrj lationz edj cation indvij (w) l grj(w)ation grj (w) l

D+Y=J
didj see(y)it ho j lye kit Kj tell wrj senjr check Wjer fmlee think didj fine jer keez We fllow jerin strctionz Kngrj lationz edj cation indvij (w) l grj(w)ation grj (w) l

Did you see it? How did you like it? Could you tell? Where did you send your check? What did your family think? Did you find your keys? We followed your instructions. Congratulations! Education individual graduation gradual

S + Y = SH
Yes, you are

Insurance
Bless you! Press your hands together Can you dress yourself? You can pass your exams this year.

Ill try to guess your age

Let him gas your car for you.

yeshu are inshurance blesshue pressure hanz dgethr knew dreshier self yukn psher egzamz thisheer l tryd geshierage leddim gshier car fr you

S + Y = SH
yeshu are inshurance blesshue pressure hanz dgethr knew dreshier self yukn psher egzamz thisheer l tryd geshierage leddim gshier car fr you

Yes, you are Insurance

Bless you!
Press your hands together Can you dress yourself? You can pass your exams this year. Ill try to guess your age Let him gas your car for you.

Z + Y = ZH
Hows your family? How was your trip? Whos your friend? Wheres your mom? Whens your birthday? She says you are ok. Who does your hair. casual visual

hozhier fmlee ho wzhier trip hoozhier frend wrzhr mm wnzhr brthday she sezhierou kay hoo dzhier hr K zhy(w) l vi zhy(w) l

hozhier fmlee ho wzhier trip hoozhier frend wrzhr mm wnzhr brthday she sezhierou kay hoo dzhier hr K zhy(w) l vi zhy(w) l

Hows your family? How was your trip? Whos your friend? Wheres your mom? Whens your birthday? She says you are ok. Who does your hair. casual

visual

Exercise:
1. Did you 2. Whos your 3. Just your 4. Gesture 5. Miss you 6. Tissue 7. Got your 8. Wheres your 9. Congratulations 10. Had your
________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________

Finding Liaisons and Glides

Hello, my name is ______. Im taking American Accent Training. There's a lot to learn, but I hope to make it as enjoyable as possible. I should pick up on the American intonation pattern pretty easily, although the only way to get it is to practice all of the time. I use the up and down , or peaks and valleys intonation more than I used to. Ive been paying attention to pitch too. Its like walking down a staircase. Ive been talking to a lot of Americans lately, and they tell me that Im easier to understand. Anyway, I could go on and on, but the important thing is to listen well and sound good. Well, what do you think? Do I?

Practicing Liaison
Hello, my nay miz _____. Im taking merica nccent(t)raining. There z ltt learn, b di hope tma ki desen joyablez passible. I shd pi kpn the (y) merica nintnashn pddern pridy(y)ezily, lthough thee(y)only wayd geddidiz t prkti sllv th time. I(y)use thee(y)upn down, or peaksn valley zintnashn more th ni used to. Ivbn paying tenshn tpitch,too. Itsli kwlking dow n staircase. Ivbn talking to(w) lddv merican zla(t)ely, n they tell me the dimeezier to(w)understnd. Anyway, I could go(w) n nn, bu(t)thee(y)important thingiz t lisnwelln soun(d)good. Well, wddy think? Do(w)I?