Connected Speech and Pronunciation Practice
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following phrases demonstrates progressive assimilation with initial [ð]?

  • on the shelves (correct)
  • But there are reasons
  • Are those yours?
  • Then therefore

What term is used for the assimilation pattern that occurs in phrases like 'She has to'?

  • Postnasal assimilation
  • Progressive assimilation of voicing
  • Regressive assimilation of voicing (correct)
  • Coalescent assimilation of voicing

Which example DOES NOT illustrate assimilation of yod in 'you' in a tag question?

  • You should visit, shouldn’t you?
  • You didn’t do that, did you?
  • You can´t swim, can you? (correct)
  • You couldn´t find it, could you?

What is one common context in which elision of [t̠] or [d̠] occurs?

<p>Between two other consonants (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents the rapid pronunciation of the word 'absolute'?

<p>[ˈapsǝluːt̠] (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which example does NOT illustrate elision of [t̠] or [d̠]?

<p>smoked herring (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the phrase 'how’s the patient?', which assimilation type is demonstrated?

<p>Progressive assimilation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of assimilation on the phrase 'what’s the matter?'?

<p>It merges consonants into a smoother flow. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which phenomenon describes the insertion of a consonant between a nasal and a fricative? For example, in the word 'fence'.

<p>Epenthesis (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what context does an alveolar stop consonant typically change to a bilabial sound in English?

<p>When followed by a bilabial consonant (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of assimilation leads to the merging of the sounds [t̠] and [j] into [tʃ]?

<p>Coalescent assimilation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following shows an example of elision of a consonant in rapid English speech?

<p>Lost my mind (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of pronouncing two words as one because the first ends in a consonant and the next begins with a vowel?

<p>Liaison or linking (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In non-rhotic accents, when is the linking r typically pronounced?

<p>Only preceding a vowel (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is intrusive r in the context of spoken English?

<p>Insertion of a [ɹ] sound where it does not appear in the spelling (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about elision is true?

<p>It is characterized by the removal of sounds in speech. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which environment typically triggers intrusive r in non-rhotic English?

<p>Betweent vowels [ɑː], [ɔː], and [ǝ] (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of epenthesis in speech?

<p>To insert a sound that was initially absent (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which phonetic phenomenon is characterised by pronouncing word-final consonants if a vowel follows in connected speech?

<p>Linking or Liaison (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of citation form in language?

<p>The standard pronunciation of a word in isolation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What most typically occurs in the rapid pronunciation of [n̠] + [d̠] + [j] sequences as in 'endure' in General British?

<p>[d̠] and [j] coalesce. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following speech forms commonly elides /h/?

<p>Function words in weak forms. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In informal speech, how is the dental fricative [ð] treated in the word 'them' if it is unaccented?

<p>It is often elided. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common elision in the word 'clothes'?

<p>Elision of [ð]. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the rapid pronunciation of the sequence [skt] in connected speech, as in 'asked me'?

<p>[k] is elided. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What commonly happens to the [v] in the word 'of' before [ð], as in 'of them'?

<p>[v] is elided. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do forms of numerals like 'fifth' or 'twelfth' generally behave in terms of elision?

<p>They elide the consonant preceding [θ] . (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pairs may exhibit reciprocal assimilation in rapid speech?

<p>[l + ð / and [n̠ + ð] (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is described as a change in the manner of articulation in phonetics?

<p>A change in how the sound is articulated in terms of constriction in the oral cavity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of assimilation commonly affects unstressed initial [ð] in English, as in 'all the' or 'in the'?

<p>Nasal and lateral assimilation. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which example illustrates historical elision in English speech?

<p>listen (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do both contemporary and historical assimilation processes occur?

<p>Due to phonetic conditioning. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What label is given to elision that is not based on historical changes?

<p>Contextual (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents assimilation where two sounds merge?

<p>behind you (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for the extintion of the original pronunciation of words with all their sounds?

<p>Historical elision. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of phonetic change is exemplified by 'fail the test' becoming [ˈfeɪl lǝ ˈt̠ʰɛst̠]?

<p>Assimilation of point and manner of articulation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In phonetics, what is elision primarily characterized by?

<p>Deleting a phoneme (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The rapid pronunciation of which expression(s) reflects a contemporary example of both assimilation and elision?

<p>Join the army (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The alveolar stop will become bilabial in rapidly pronouncing the word 'footpath'. How will this happen?

<p>By assimilating to the bilabial regressively. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When an intrusive consonant is pronounced to favour fluency in speech, what is that sound called?

<p>Epenthetic (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which context [t̠] or [d̠] will NOT be elided in connected speech.

<p>If a glottal fricative consonant follows (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the rapid pronunciation of the phrase 'failed test'. What processe(s)may occur?

<p>Elision of [d̠] (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In informal speech, how is the dental fricative [ð] treated in the word 'them' if it is accented?

<p>It is pronounced. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Assimilation in Tag Questions

Consonant sounds in tag questions (e.g., "didn't you?") sometimes change to match nearby sounds.

Lagging Assimilation

A consonant sound (/ð/) can change when it is next to other consonants (/n/, /l/, /s/, /z/) in unstressed words.

Energy Assimilation in English

English rarely uses a type of assimilation that changes consonant sounds to match others (although some changes appear in words like 'used to').

Elision of /t/ or /d/

The /t/ and /d/ sounds can disappear in English when they are between two other consonants, like in "past tense" or "left luggage."

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Consonant Sequences

Groups of consonants in a row can cause sounds to blend or disappear.

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Unstressed Words

Words with less emphasis that frequently lose sounds, such as through lagging assimilation.

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Assimilation

A phonetic process where a speech sound is modified by another sound.

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Elision

The omission of a sound or syllable from a word or phrase.

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Linking R

The sound /r/ is added at the end of a word when the next word starts with a vowel. This is common in non-rhotic accents of English.

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Intrusive R

The sound /r/ is inserted between a vowel and a consonant at a word boundary. This is common in non-rhotic accents of English.

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Elision of /t/

Deletion of the /t/ sound in certain consonant clusters, particularly when followed by /j/, in rapid speech.

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Glottal reinforcement

Replacing /t/ with a glottal stop ([ʔ]) and reinforcing the consonant immediately after the glottal stop.

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What is the opposite of elision?

The opposite of elision is liaison, which is the insertion of an extra sound. Elision is the omission of a sound.

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What is the name of the 'r' sound added in 'sooner or later'?

The 'r' sound added in 'sooner or later' is called linking 'r', a feature of non-rhotic accents of English.

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Shortening of vowels before /nt/ and /lt/

Vowels preceding /nt/ and /lt/ become shorter when pronounced in a continuous speech flow.

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Assimilation to /ʧ/ and /ʤ/

Consonants /t/ and /d/ transforming into /ʧ/ and /ʤ/ when followed by /j/ in connected speech.

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What vowels can lead to intrusive 'r'?

Intrusive 'r' occurs after vowels like /ɑː/, /ɔː/, /ǝ/ and diphthongs ending in /ǝ/ in non-rhotic accents of English.

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What is epenthesis?

Epenthesis is the insertion of a sound within a word that was not originally present.

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Elision of /h/ in weak forms

The /h/ sound is often dropped from weak function words like 'he', 'the' in everyday speech, even in formal settings

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What is the difference between 'linking r' and 'intrusive r'?

'Linking r' is added at word boundaries when the next word starts with a vowel, while 'intrusive r' is inserted between vowels and consonants.

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Elision of /ð/ in them

The dental fricative /ð/ from the word 'them' is regularly omitted in casual speech

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Elision of /θ/ and /ð/

The /θ/ (e.g. 'th' in 'months') and /ð/ (e.g. 'th' in 'clothes') or dental fricatives can be elided in casual speech.

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How does the French language use liaison?

French uses liaison to link words together, which is a common feature in the language. It involves adding a consonant sound to a word at the end of a phrase depending on the following sound.

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What is a non-rhotic accent?

A non-rhotic accent is one where the /r/ sound is not pronounced at the end of a word, except when followed by a vowel.

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Elision of /v/ in 'of'

'Of' can frequently lose its /v/ sound especially when it precedes /ð/ but also some other consonants at fast speech.

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Elision of /k/ in /skt/ Sequences

The /k/ sound in the /skt/ sequence can be elided or have elision of /t/ instead in rapid, spoken English.

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Elision of preceding consonant

In some cases, primarily with numerals like fifth or twelfth, the consonant before /θ/ is elided instead of the /θ/ sound.

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Epenthesis

Adding an extra sound inside a word that wasn't originally there.

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Homorganic Plosive Insertion

Adding a consonant sound similar to the nasal sound before a fricative.

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Coalescent Assimilation

Two sounds merge to create a new sound, especially with /t/ or /d/ before "you" or "your."

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Assimilation in Rapid Speech

Sounds change to match nearby sounds, happening more often in fast speaking.

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Assimilation in Informal Speech

Sounds change to match nearby sounds, happening more often in informal situations.

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What is manner assimilation?

A type of assimilation where the manner of articulation changes, like replacing a fricative with a nasal or lateral.

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What's a common example of nasal assimilation in English?

English often nasalizes the /ð/ sound at the beginning of unstressed words, like in 'join the army' becoming 'join ni army'.

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What is co-occurrence of assimilations?

When multiple types of assimilation happen simultaneously, like place and manner assimilation in 'behind you' becoming 'behinʤu'.

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What is Elision?

The omission of a phoneme from a word in connected speech, like 'tasteless' becoming 'taislǝs'.

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What is historical assimilation?

When an assimilated form in a language becomes fixed and the original form is no longer used, like 'cupboard' where *'kʌpbɔːd' is no longer used.

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What is historical elision?

When a form with an elided phoneme becomes fixed and the original form is no longer used, like 'know' where *'knowe' is no longer used.

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Why do some historical elisions and assimilations sometimes revert back to the original forms?

The influence of spelling can sometimes cause historical elisions and assimilations to revert to the original form.

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What is contemporary assimilation?

Present-day assimilation where there is an ideal form, and the assimilation happens in specific contexts and can usually be optional.

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What is contemporary elision?

Present-day elision where there is an ideal form, and the elision happens in specific contexts and can usually be optional.

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What is the difference between contemporary assimilation/elision and historical assimilation/elision?

Contemporary assimilation/elision is optional and based on an ideal form, while historical assimilation/elision is fixed and the original form is no longer used.

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Study Notes

Connected Speech Surprises

  • All languages simplify connected speech (e.g., compounds, inflections) to ease articulation.
  • This simplification varies between languages and even accents within a language.
  • Native speakers are often unaware of these processes and may be surprised by them.
  • Differences aren't random; clear patterns exist.

Activity B2.1 - Recording 2.1

  • The activity involves practicing pronunciation of English words and phrases, first using citation forms in column 1 and then connected speech forms in column 2.
  • Examples of words used in the activity include headquarters, main course, matched pairs, and perhaps.

Phonetic Conditioning

  • Phonetic conditioning describes how speech segments are influenced by surrounding sounds.
  • This influences variations in phoneme realization.
  • Three main types are: allophonic variation, assimilation, and elision.

Assimilation

  • Assimilation is a phonetic conditioning process where one phoneme is replaced by another due to the influence of a neighboring phoneme.
  • Example: "broadcast" might become "brogka:st"
  • "Broad" (ideal form) vs "brog" (assimilated form)
  • This type of assimilation can involve replacing one phoneme with another(/d/ → /g/ in the example above).
  • Assimilation takes into account the "ideal form" of words, which is the form corresponding to what native speakers have in their minds (i.e., a careful pronunciation).

Patterns of Assimilation in English

  • Articulation features can anticipate or lag behind following/preceding segments
  • Leading Assimilation: feature anticipation
  • Lagging Assimilation: delay of articulators
  • Reciprocal Assimilation: Two-way exchange of articulation features
  • Types of influence:
  • final alveolars replaced by bilabials or velars, when preceded by /p b m/ or /k g/
  • Place assimilation is common in English
  • Fortis/voiceless alveolars remain fortis/voiceless, while lenis/voiced alveolars remain lenis/voiced

Historical Assimilation and Elision

  • Distinguishing between contemporary (present-day) and historical processes of assimilation and elision.
  • In contemporary processes, there's a pre-existing ideal form, as is the case for absolutely, and the assimilation/elision takes place only in certain contexts.
  • When the original forms become extinct, and the assimilated forms become fixed, then it's considered historical, e.g., 'cupboard' (/kʌbəd/) which is assimilated from */kapbɔ:d/).

Liaison

  • The opposite of elision, liaison involves inserting an extra sound/phoneme.
  • Rhotic vs. non-rhotic accents: /r/ pronunciation varies.
  • Linking r: occurs where there is no r in the spelling.
  • Intrusive r: a linking r when a surrounding vowel and no explicit /r/ exists.

Epenthesis

  • Epenthesis: inserting a phoneme/sound to separate sounds.
  • The insertion of a homorganic plosive between a nasal and a fricative (e.g., sense vs. scents).

Activity B2.4

  • Recognizing how different speakers treat certain consonant pairs. (e.g., mince/mints)
  • Understanding variation and the different ways people pronounce words.

Patterns of Assimilation and Elision in English

  • Assimilation and elision processes are more frequent in informal, fast speech.
  • Types of assimilation: leading, lagging, reciprocal.
  • Leading assimilation of place of final alveolars, alveolar → bilabial in context preceding bilabial
  • Alveolar → velar in context preceding velar
  • Elision of /t/ and /d/ in consonant sequences

Coalescent assimilation with /j/

  • Some consonants merge with /j/, resulting in new sounds or combinations.
  • This is particularly noticeable in tag questions with "you".

Energy Assimilation

  • Rare in English, but sometimes used with 'to' and 'have to'.
  • Obvious assimilation is not common in English
  • No fortis-to-lenis assimilation, such as back door-> bag door

Elision of /t/ and /d/ in consonant sequences

  • Deletion of /t/ or /d/ is common when surrounded by other consonants, specifically when in a sequence of 3 consonants.

Other Notable Elisions

  • h-dropping is common, especially with weak forms of function words.
  • Elision of the dental fricative /ð/, especially in casual speech or informal registers.
  • Particular variations in the form of numbers like 'fifth' and 'twelfth'
  • Elision of /v/ in 'of', e.g. 'three of the websites' becoming 'three o' the websites'

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