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Questions and Answers
What is assimilation in connected speech, and can you provide an example?
What is assimilation in connected speech, and can you provide an example?
Assimilation is a phonetic feature where a sound changes to become more like a neighboring sound. An example is the phrase 'handbag' being pronounced as 'hambag'.
Define elision in the context of connected speech and give an example.
Define elision in the context of connected speech and give an example.
Elision is the omission of a sound or syllable in connected speech. An example is pronouncing 'next day' as 'nex day'.
What does reduction mean in connected speech, and how is it typically observed?
What does reduction mean in connected speech, and how is it typically observed?
Reduction refers to the weakening of vowel sounds in unstressed syllables. This is often seen in the pronunciation of 'going to' as 'gonna'.
Explain linking in connected speech and provide an example.
Explain linking in connected speech and provide an example.
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How do assimilation and reduction differ in their effects on speech clarity?
How do assimilation and reduction differ in their effects on speech clarity?
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How does assimilation create a smoother flow in spoken language?
How does assimilation create a smoother flow in spoken language?
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In what way does elision affect the rhythm of speech in conversation?
In what way does elision affect the rhythm of speech in conversation?
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Describe how reduction is utilized in everyday speech among native speakers.
Describe how reduction is utilized in everyday speech among native speakers.
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What role does linking play in promoting clarity in spoken interaction?
What role does linking play in promoting clarity in spoken interaction?
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Explain the interplay between assimilation and linking in a spoken dialogue.
Explain the interplay between assimilation and linking in a spoken dialogue.
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Study Notes
Introduction
- Connected speech involves the processes of modifying sounds during conversation.
- Adjacency pairs are two-part conversational exchanges (e.g., question-answer).
Assimilation
- Assimilation is the adaptation of a phone into the neighbouring phone's characteristics.
- Forward assimilation: A phone is altered to resemble the following phone.
- Example: "good boy" becomes [ɡʊdbɔɪ], where the /d/ becomes voiced to match the following /b/.
- Backward assimilation: A phone is altered to resemble the preceding phone.
- Example: "pink house" becomes [pɪŋk haʊs], where the /k/ is palatalized before the high front vowel /ɪ/.
- Coalescence: Two sounds merge into a single sound.
- Example: Two sounds in the word "help" can undergo coalescence. The /ɛlp/ sounds change to /eʊlp/
Elision
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Elision is the omission of a phone in connected speech.
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Factors affecting elision:
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The sound's position in the word and its importance to its meaning.
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Example: "I'm going home" could be realised as [aɪm ˈɡəʊɪŋ həʊm], with the omission of the 'n' sound in 'going'.
Reduction
- Reduction is the weakening or lessening of a phone's intensity or length.
- Commonly affects unstressed syllables or post-tonic consonantal environments
- Example: "I will go to the store" - the
willcan be reduced to [ˈwɪl] - Example: "I have got" - the
gotcan be reduced to [ɡɑːt]
Linking
- Linking is the modification or addition of a sound to connect preceding and following words.
- *Linking /j/ or /w/:
- Occurs to smooth the transition across vowels.
- Examples: "yellow house" [ˈjɛləʊ haʊs], "orange juice" [ˈɔrɪndʒ ˈdʒuːs]
- *Linking /j/ or (sometimes) /θ/
- Occurring between two vowels
- Example: "blue eye" [bluːaj]
- Example: "the other" [ ðəˈʌðə(r)]
Factors influencing phonetic realization of adjacency pairs
- Social factors: Different social groups and communities may have different speech patterns.
- Phonological factors: The adjacent sounds influence each other based on the phonetic features.
Implications in language analysis
- Connected speech variations have implications in computational linguistics and speech recognition systems.
- Knowing about connected speech modifications is helpful for language teachers and learners trying to achieve fluency.
Notes on further research
- Further research is required to examine connected speech in different languages and dialects.
- The study of connected speech should be considered to better understand the nuances of language processing.
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Description
This quiz explores the concepts of connected speech, including assimilation, elision, and adjacency pairs. You will learn how sounds modify during conversation and the rules governing these processes. Get ready to test your understanding of these critical components of spoken language.
