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Linking Sounds

Beyond pronunciation guides in dictionaries, there are subtle extra tendencies in pronunciation within any language. In English, we call these linking sounds.

When native speakers move from a Long E, Long I or Long A sound to another vowel within a word or phrase, we make a slight Y sound (as in yes) to transition smoothly, without stopping, from one sound to the next. For this reason, the word “create” actually sounds like kree-YAYT. And the phrase “be able to” actually sounds like bee-YAY-bl to. Note that in both words there is a Long A sound shown as AY to emphasize the EE quality at the end of this sound as in the word “yay” as in “Yay, we did it!”

When native speakers move from a Long O or Long U sound to another vowel in a word or phrase, we make a slight W sound in transition. For this reason, “coordinate” sounds like co-WOR-din-ate and “go into detail” sounds like go-WIN-to detail.

Practice with the video here.

client	dialogue
bias	chaos
tedious	influence
scientist	ruin
after all	do it
giant	area
to a	riot
quiet	easiest

Words and phrases with stress on the 2nd syllable: buy into your event, alliance, chaotic, create, rely on, be able to, its sunny out, idea, the other, get through it, interior, reaction, familiar, pursuing, variety, throughout, ambiguous, hang out, flew off, grow up, key issue. try on

Words and phrases with stress on the 3rd syllable: going over, mediation, get the hang of it, bring it on, FBI, CEO, CFO, CIA, free of charge, after all, she encourages

Linking phrases:

I don’t buy it.

might be a little distracting/annoying,

It’ll be over soon.

He’ll be at the cafe at six.

Go on and on and on.

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