This document discusses four aspects of connected speech: rhythm, assimilation, elision, and linking. It provides definitions and examples for each aspect. Rhythm refers to the regular occurrence of stressed syllables. Assimilation is the change in pronunciation of sounds due to surrounding sounds, including place of articulation, manner of articulation, and voicing. Elision is the deletion of sounds, such as weak vowels and consonants, in casual speech. Linking is the phenomenon of words or sounds blending together through final consonant to initial vowel connection or intrusive vowels between words.

1. Tran Thai Thong, Th.S.
Unit 6.
Aspects of
connected
speech

2. Aspects of connected speech
ASSIMILATION2
RHYTHM1
LINKING4
ELISION3

3. Definition:
-The notion of rhythm is an event happening at regular internals of
time.
-The rhythm of speech is the regular occurrence of stressed syllable at
regular internals of time
EX: - ‘Walk ‘down to the ‘path to the 'end of the ca’nal.
-’John ‘went to a ‘good ‘school in ‘Perth.
-’Peter ‘travelled to an ‘excellent uni’versity in ‘Melbourne.
-Video:
RHYTHM1

4. Words receiving stress in English language.
-Lexical words consisting of :
1. Noun
2. Verb
3. Adjective
4. Adverb
5. Negative words (not ,no, never, without, etc.)
RHYTHM1

5. For example: Read the passage with rhythm.
RHYTHM1

6. For example:
RHYTHM1

7. Notes:
Sometimes the speakers put the stress on the grammatical words to
emphasize what they mean.
Example: Jack will cycle to the restaurant tonight.
Rhythm rules: ‘Jack will ‘cycle to the ‘restaurant to’night.
But depending on the speakers 'purpose, the sentence can have other
rhythm and stress as follows:
RHYTHM1

8. Video:
RHYTHM1

9. Exercise:
RHYTHM1

10. Exercise:
RHYTHM1

11. Exercise:
RHYTHM1

12. Definition:
Assimilation is the change in pronunciation of a phoneme under the
influence of its surrounding sounds.
Ex: 1. news /njuz/ but newspaper /’njuspeipə/
2. This year / ðij jiə/
3. Want to / wɔnə/
ASSIMILATION2

13. directions of assimilation
Including:
1/Regressive assimilation
2/Progressive assimilation
ASSIMILATION2

14. directions of assimilation
1/Regressive assimilation:
The phoneme that comes first is affected by the one that comes after it.
Example:
That person /ðæp'pɜːsn/
bright color /braik 'kʌlə/
light blue /laip blu/.
2/Progressive assimilation:
The phoneme that comes first affects the one that comes after it.
Example:
in the /in ðə/ -> /innə/
get them /get ðəm/ ->/gettəm/
Read these /ri:d ði:s/ ->/ri:ddi:s/
ASSIMILATION2

15. Types of assimilation:
A/ Assimilation in place of articulation
B/ Assimilation in manner of articulation
C/ Assimilation in voicing
ASSIMILATION2

16. Assimilation in place of articulation:
1. Alveolar + bilabial => bilabial
ASSIMILATION2

17. A/ Assimilation in place of articulation:
1. Alveolar + bilabial => bilabial
ASSIMILATION2

18. A/ Assimilation in place of articulation:
2. Alveolar + velar => velar
ASSIMILATION2

19. A/ Assimilation in place of articulation:
2. Alveolar + velar => velar
ASSIMILATION2

20. A/ Assimilation in place of articulation:
3. Alveolar + detal => dental plosive
ASSIMILATION2

21. A/ Assimilation in place of articulation:
4. Alveolar + palate-alveolar/palatal =>palate
ASSIMILATION2

22. A/ Assimilation in place of articulation:
4. Alveolar + palate-alveolar/palatal =>palate
ASSIMILATION2

23. B/Assimilation in manner of articulation:
Only regressive assimilation of alveolar consonant
ASSIMILATION2

24. C/Assimilation in voicing:
Only regressive assimilation of voice
Cf (voiced) + Ci (voiceless) => Cf: voiceless
Some examples:
ASSIMILATION2

25. Definition:
Elision is the case of a sound realized as zero or be deleted in casual,
rapid speech.
There can be vowel elision and consonant elision.
Example: vowel: tonight //tə'nait/ but in rapid speech /tnait/
consonant: act : /ækt/ but acts /æks/
ELISION3

26. Rules of elision:
1. Lost of weak vowel after p, t, k.
Ex: potato, tomato, canary, perhaps, today, etc.
ELISION3

27. Rules of elision:
2. Weak vowel + n, l, r becomes syllabic
3. Avoidance of complex consonant cluster:
ELISION3

28. Rules of elision:
4. Loss of /v/ in “of” before consonant
Example:
ELISION3

29. Definition:
Linking is the phenomenon where words or sounds are linked together.
There are 2 ways linking.
1. Final consonant to initial vowel
Example:
LINKING4

30. 2. Final vowel to initial vowel
a/ Intrusive /j/ when a word ending in /i:/ & /i/ is followed by a word
beginning with a vowel.
Example:
LINKING4

31. 2. Final vowel to initial vowel
b/ Intrusive /w/ when a word ending in /u:/ & /u/ is followed by a word
beginning with a vowel.
Example:
LINKING4

32. 2. Final vowel to initial vowel
c/ notes:
LINKING4

33. 2. Final vowel to initial vowel
c/ notes:
Linking sometimes confuses the listeners to understand the meaning of the
words.
Example:
LINKING4

34. See in chapter 12 of the book:
WEAK FORMExtra