This document discusses aspects of connected speech in English. It explains that English is considered a stress-timed language, where stressed syllables tend to occur at regular intervals. It describes different rhythmic patterns in languages and the concept of feet in poetry. The document also covers assimilation, where sounds change depending on surrounding sounds, most commonly affecting consonants at word boundaries in English. Assimilation may involve changes in place of articulation but not voicing. Connected speech features like assimilation help words blend together smoothly in fast, casual speech.

1. Aspects of
connected speech
Professor: Dr. Salehi
Presented by: Imaneh Amini

3. Some noticeable event occurring at regular
intervals
Heartbeat
Flashing light
Music
It is claimed that English speech is rhythmical
Some noticeable event occurring at regular
intervals
Heartbeat
Flashing light
Music
It is claimed that English speech is rhythmical

4.  English speech is sometimes referred to as
Stress-timed
 Stressed syllables tend to occur at relatively
regular intervals
 This happens whether they are separated by
unstressed syllables or not
1 2 3 4 5
walk down the path to the end of the ca nalˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ
 English speech is sometimes referred to as
Stress-timed
 Stressed syllables tend to occur at relatively
regular intervals
 This happens whether they are separated by
unstressed syllables or not
1 2 3 4 5
walk down the path to the end of the ca nalˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ

5.  The time from each stressed syllable to the next
will tend to be the same, irrespective of the
number of intervening unstressed syllables
 Some languages have a rhythm similar to
English(Russian, Arabic)
 Others have a different rhythm(French,
Yoruba)
 These are known as syllable-timed
 All syllables tend to occur at regular time
intervals
 The time from each stressed syllable to the next
will tend to be the same, irrespective of the
number of intervening unstressed syllables
 Some languages have a rhythm similar to
English(Russian, Arabic)
 Others have a different rhythm(French,
Yoruba)
 These are known as syllable-timed
 All syllables tend to occur at regular time
intervals

6.  A unit of rhythm
 Begins with a stressed syllable
 Includes all following syllables up to (but
not including) the next stressed syllable
1 2 3 4 5
│ walk │ down the │ path to the │ end of the ca │ nalˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ
 A unit of rhythm
 Begins with a stressed syllable
 Includes all following syllables up to (but
not including) the next stressed syllable
1 2 3 4 5
│ walk │ down the │ path to the │ end of the ca │ nalˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ ˈ

7.  Some feet are stronger than others
 Strong-weak patterns are produced in larger
pieces of speech
 Some feet are stronger than others
 Strong-weak patterns are produced in larger
pieces of speech

10.  Analysing speech this way enables us to show
the relationship between strong and weak
elements
 Also the different levels of stress
 The length of any syllable can be measured
depending on the number of “s” symbols
occurring above it
 This allows us to build up a metrical grid
 Analysing speech this way enables us to show
the relationship between strong and weak
elements
 Also the different levels of stress
 The length of any syllable can be measured
depending on the number of “s” symbols
occurring above it
 This allows us to build up a metrical grid

11. s
s s s
s s s s
Twen ty pla ces fur ther back
This may be correct for slow, careful speech
In normal speech, speakers may feel twen is stronger
than pla
But English speech does tend towards a rhythmic
alternation of strong and weak syllables
s
s s s
s s s s
Twen ty pla ces fur ther back
This may be correct for slow, careful speech
In normal speech, speakers may feel twen is stronger
than pla
But English speech does tend towards a rhythmic
alternation of strong and weak syllables

12.  In order to maintain a s/w pattern , stress-shift
sometimes occurs
 Com pact(adj) but compact diskˈ ˈ ˈ
thir teen but thirtennth placeˈ ˈ ˈ
 Health row but Healthrow Airportˈ ˈ ˈ
 Stresses are altered according to context
 It is difficult to say exactly why
 In order to maintain a s/w pattern , stress-shift
sometimes occurs
 Com pact(adj) but compact diskˈ ˈ ˈ
thir teen but thirtennth placeˈ ˈ ˈ
 Health row but Healthrow Airportˈ ˈ ˈ
 Stresses are altered according to context
 It is difficult to say exactly why

13.  We vary how rhythmically we speak
 “Rap” is stress timed
 Public speaking can be very rhythmical
 Hesitant or nervous speech can sound
arhythmical (without rhythm)
 The rhythm of English speech varies on a
continuum
 Stress timing  arhythmicality
 We vary how rhythmically we speak
 “Rap” is stress timed
 Public speaking can be very rhythmical
 Hesitant or nervous speech can sound
arhythmical (without rhythm)
 The rhythm of English speech varies on a
continuum
 Stress timing  arhythmicality

15. So gay I can barely say it with a 'straight' face looking boy
You're witnessing a mass-occur like you're watching a church gathering
And take place looking boy
Oy vey, that boy's gay
That's all they say looking boy
You get a thumbs up, pat on the back
And a "way to go" from your label every day looking boy
Hey, looking boy, what d'you say looking boy?
I get a "hell yeah" from Dre looking boy
I'mma work for everything I have
Never asked nobody for shit
Git out my face looking boy
Basically boy you're never gonna be capable
of keeping up with the same pace looking boy, 'cause
I'm beginning to feel like a Rap God, Rap God
All my people from the front to the back nod, back nod
The way I'm racing around the track, call me Nascar, Nascar
Dale Earnhardt of the trailer park, the White Trash God
Kneel before General Zod this planet's Krypton, no Asgard, Asgard
So gay I can barely say it with a 'straight' face looking boy
You're witnessing a mass-occur like you're watching a church gathering
And take place looking boy
Oy vey, that boy's gay
That's all they say looking boy
You get a thumbs up, pat on the back
And a "way to go" from your label every day looking boy
Hey, looking boy, what d'you say looking boy?
I get a "hell yeah" from Dre looking boy
I'mma work for everything I have
Never asked nobody for shit
Git out my face looking boy
Basically boy you're never gonna be capable
of keeping up with the same pace looking boy, 'cause
I'm beginning to feel like a Rap God, Rap God
All my people from the front to the back nod, back nod
The way I'm racing around the track, call me Nascar, Nascar
Dale Earnhardt of the trailer park, the White Trash God
Kneel before General Zod this planet's Krypton, no Asgard, Asgard

16.  Studies of natural speech have shown that so called
stress-timed languages do not differ considerably
from so-called syllable-timed language
 It may be a psychological thing
We hear a regular rhythm which isn’t actually regular
 This may develop due to childhood language
E.g.nursery rhymes, chants, etc.
 Studies of natural speech have shown that so called
stress-timed languages do not differ considerably
from so-called syllable-timed language
 It may be a psychological thing
We hear a regular rhythm which isn’t actually regular
 This may develop due to childhood language
E.g.nursery rhymes, chants, etc.

17.  Sounds belonging to one word can change depending
on the environment
 When a phoneme is realised differently due to
context
Sounds become more similar
 More likely to be found in rapid, casual speech
 In English, usually affects consonants at word
boundaries
 Sounds belonging to one word can change depending
on the environment
 When a phoneme is realised differently due to
context
Sounds become more similar
 More likely to be found in rapid, casual speech
 In English, usually affects consonants at word
boundaries

18. _ _ _ _C Cᶠ i
_ _ _ _
C may change to become more like Cᶠ i
in some way
This is called regressive assimilation
If Ci
change to become more like C , it is calledᶠ
progressive assimilation
Consonants can change in three ways:
Place of articulation
Manner of articulation
Voicing
Assimilation of place is the most common
_ _ _ _C Cᶠ i
_ _ _ _
C may change to become more like Cᶠ i
in some way
This is called regressive assimilation
If Ci
change to become more like C , it is calledᶠ
progressive assimilation
Consonants can change in three ways:
Place of articulation
Manner of articulation
Voicing
Assimilation of place is the most common

19.  Alveolar consonants are highly susceptible to
regressive assimilation
 That person / ðæt p3:sn / >>>/ðæp p3:sn /ˈ ˈ
 Light blue / la t blu:/ >>> /la p blu:/ɪ ɪ
 Bright color /bra t k l / >>> / bra t k l /ɪ ˈ ǝ ɪ ˈ ǝɅ Ʌ
 Quite good /kwa t g d / >>> / kwa t g d /ɪ Ʊ ɪ Ʊ
 Good boy / g d bƱ ͻ / >>>/ g b bɪ Ʊ ͻ /ɪ
 Good girl / g d g3:l/ >>> / g g g3:l/Ʊ Ʊ
 Does she /d z i / >>>/d i/ʃ ʒ ʃɅ Ʌ
 This year /ð s j / >>> /ð j /ɪ ɪǝ ɪʃ ɪǝ
 Note that only POA changes, not voicing
 Alveolar consonants are highly susceptible to
regressive assimilation
 That person / ðæt p3:sn / >>>/ðæp p3:sn /ˈ ˈ
 Light blue / la t blu:/ >>> /la p blu:/ɪ ɪ
 Bright color /bra t k l / >>> / bra t k l /ɪ ˈ ǝ ɪ ˈ ǝɅ Ʌ
 Quite good /kwa t g d / >>> / kwa t g d /ɪ Ʊ ɪ Ʊ
 Good boy / g d bƱ ͻ / >>>/ g b bɪ Ʊ ͻ /ɪ
 Good girl / g d g3:l/ >>> / g g g3:l/Ʊ Ʊ
 Does she /d z i / >>>/d i/ʃ ʒ ʃɅ Ʌ
 This year /ð s j / >>> /ð j /ɪ ɪǝ ɪʃ ɪǝ
 Note that only POA changes, not voicing

20.  Consonants undergoing assimilation have not
disappeard
 If ONE alveolar consonant at the end of a
word assimilates, they all will
 Don’t go/d nt g / >>> /d ᶇk g /ǝƱ ǝƱ Ʊ ǝƱ
 Shouldn’t be / dnt bi/ >>> / bmp bi/ˈʃƱ ˈʃƱ
 Consonants undergoing assimilation have not
disappeard
 If ONE alveolar consonant at the end of a
word assimilates, they all will
 Don’t go/d nt g / >>> /d ᶇk g /ǝƱ ǝƱ Ʊ ǝƱ
 Shouldn’t be / dnt bi/ >>> / bmp bi/ˈʃƱ ˈʃƱ

21.  Not as noticeable
 Usually regressive
 A final plosive may be realised as a fricative or nasal
 Not usual the other way around
 That side /ðæt sa d/ >>> /ðæs sa d/ɪ ɪ
 Good night /g d na t />>>/g nna t/Ʊ ɪ Ʊ ɪ
 With word initial / ð / we sometimes get progressive
assimilation
 In the / n ð / >>> / nn /ɪ ǝ ɪ ǝ
 Get them /get ð m/>>> /get d m/ǝ ǝ
 Not as noticeable
 Usually regressive
 A final plosive may be realised as a fricative or nasal
 Not usual the other way around
 That side /ðæt sa d/ >>> /ðæs sa d/ɪ ɪ
 Good night /g d na t />>>/g nna t/Ʊ ɪ Ʊ ɪ
 With word initial / ð / we sometimes get progressive
assimilation
 In the / n ð / >>> / nn /ɪ ǝ ɪ ǝ
 Get them /get ð m/>>> /get d m/ǝ ǝ

22.  Only regressive
 If C is lenis( voiced) and Cᶠ i
is fortis ( voiceless)
 The lenis consonant has little voicing
 Of course / v k :s />>> / f k :s /ǝ ǝͻ ͻ
 Is the /g / at the end of /g g / in /g g g3:l/ anƱ Ʊ
allophone of / d / ?
 Traditionally, phonemes were supposed not to
overlap their allophones
 This restriction is not seen as so important now
 One could say that [g] is an allophone of /d / in this
environment
 Only regressive
 If C is lenis( voiced) and Cᶠ i
is fortis ( voiceless)
 The lenis consonant has little voicing
 Of course / v k :s />>> / f k :s /ǝ ǝͻ ͻ
 Is the /g / at the end of /g g / in /g g g3:l/ anƱ Ʊ
allophone of / d / ?
 Traditionally, phonemes were supposed not to
overlap their allophones
 This restriction is not seen as so important now
 One could say that [g] is an allophone of /d / in this
environment

23.  Coalescence may occur when an alveolar
consonant
is followed by a palatal consonant.
 /t/+/j/=/t /, e.g.ʃ
 Tuesday /'tju:zde />>>/'t u:zde /ɪ ʃ ɪ
 Won't you /w nt ju/>>>/w nt u/ǝƱ ǝƱ ʃ
 /d/+/j/=/d / ,e.g.ʒ
 Due /dju:/>>>/d u:/ʒ
 Would use /w d 'ju:z/>>>/w 'd u:z/Ʊ Ʊ ʒ
 Coalescence may occur when an alveolar
consonant
is followed by a palatal consonant.
 /t/+/j/=/t /, e.g.ʃ
 Tuesday /'tju:zde />>>/'t u:zde /ɪ ʃ ɪ
 Won't you /w nt ju/>>>/w nt u/ǝƱ ǝƱ ʃ
 /d/+/j/=/d / ,e.g.ʒ
 Due /dju:/>>>/d u:/ʒ
 Would use /w d 'ju:z/>>>/w 'd u:z/Ʊ Ʊ ʒ

24.  Under certain circumstances, sounds disappear
 The sound is said to have a zero realisation
 Loss of weak vowel after / p t k /
 Potato /p te /ˈ ɪǝƱ
 Tomato /t m :t /ˈ ɑ ǝƱ
 Canary / k ne ri /ˈ ǝ
 Weak vowel + /n l r/ becomes syllabic
 Tonight /tna t /ɪ
 Police /pli:s/
 Correct /krekt /
 Under certain circumstances, sounds disappear
 The sound is said to have a zero realisation
 Loss of weak vowel after / p t k /
 Potato /p te /ˈ ɪǝƱ
 Tomato /t m :t /ˈ ɑ ǝƱ
 Canary / k ne ri /ˈ ǝ
 Weak vowel + /n l r/ becomes syllabic
 Tonight /tna t /ɪ
 Police /pli:s/
 Correct /krekt /

25.  Avoidance of complex clusters
 Alveolar consonans /t/ and /d/ tend to disappear
 Last term /l :st t3:m/>>> /l :s t3:m/ɑ ɑ
 Scripts /skr pts / >>> /skr ps/ɪ ɪ
 Handbag /hændbæg />>> /hæmnæg /
 This usually takes place where an alveolar consonant
is C2 , and is the same voicing as the preceding
consonant
 Avoidance of complex clusters
 Alveolar consonans /t/ and /d/ tend to disappear
 Last term /l :st t3:m/>>> /l :s t3:m/ɑ ɑ
 Scripts /skr pts / >>> /skr ps/ɪ ɪ
 Handbag /hændbæg />>> /hæmnæg /
 This usually takes place where an alveolar consonant
is C2 , and is the same voicing as the preceding
consonant

26. Very complex cluster are highly
likely to be modified in rapid
speech
George the Sixth’s throne
Sixth’s throne/s ksθs θr nɪ ǝƱ
/>>> /s ks θr n/ɪ ǝƱ
Very complex cluster are highly
likely to be modified in rapid
speech
George the Sixth’s throne
Sixth’s throne/s ksθs θr nɪ ǝƱ
/>>> /s ks θr n/ɪ ǝƱ

27.  Two kinds of linking involving /r/ :
 Linking /r/, where there is an ‘r’ in the spelling at the
end of a word and the next word begins with a vowel
 Here and now / h r n na /ɪǝ ǝ Ʊ
 Her overcoat /h r v k t/ǝ ˈǝƱ ǝ ǝƱ
 Intrusive /r/ ,where there is a non-close vowel at the
end of a word (includes front and back-closing
diphthongs)+ vowel
 China and Japan / t a n r n d pæn/ˈ ʃ ɪ ǝ ǝ ʒǝˈ
 Vanila icecream /v n l r a skri:m/ǝˈ ɪ ǝ ˈ ɪ
 Two kinds of linking involving /r/ :
 Linking /r/, where there is an ‘r’ in the spelling at the
end of a word and the next word begins with a vowel
 Here and now / h r n na /ɪǝ ǝ Ʊ
 Her overcoat /h r v k t/ǝ ˈǝƱ ǝ ǝƱ
 Intrusive /r/ ,where there is a non-close vowel at the
end of a word (includes front and back-closing
diphthongs)+ vowel
 China and Japan / t a n r n d pæn/ˈ ʃ ɪ ǝ ǝ ʒǝˈ
 Vanila icecream /v n l r a skri:m/ǝˈ ɪ ǝ ˈ ɪ

28.  The relationship between one sound and
the surrounding sounds
 Within words this is known as close
juncture
 Across word boundaries it is known as
external open juncture
 What is the difference between the /t/ in
my turn and might earn?
 The relationship between one sound and
the surrounding sounds
 Within words this is known as close
juncture
 Across word boundaries it is known as
external open juncture
 What is the difference between the /t/ in
my turn and might earn?

29.  My turn
 The /t/ is aspirated(being word initial)
 Might earn
 The /t/ is not strongly aspirated (being
word final)
 The /a / diphthong is shorter in might dueɪ
to pre-forts clipping
 My turn
 The /t/ is aspirated(being word initial)
 Might earn
 The /t/ is not strongly aspirated (being
word final)
 The /a / diphthong is shorter in might dueɪ
to pre-forts clipping