Modification of Consonants in Connected Speech

In actual speech we very seldom pronounce isolated sounds. They are used in different combinations and form phonetic sequences, in which they are modified by neighbouring sounds, i.e. lose some peculiarities of their articulation and gain some new articulatory features.

It is necessary for English learners to join the sounds properly in connected speech. To achieve good linking learners must understand the mechanism of this process and master all types of junction.

In the articulation of an isolated sound one can trace three stages. Graphically they may be represented as follows:

[t] hold/retention stage

on-glide [t2] off-glide

the middle of the sound

[t1] [t3]

the beginning of the sound the end of the sound

[t1] – the organs of speech take up the necessary position;

[t2] – the organs of speech are kept for some time in the same position;

[t3] – the organs of speech move away to a neutral position.

For example, the on-glide of [t] is forming the contact between the tip of the tongue and the teeth ridge. During the hold/retention stage the air is compressed behind the closure. During the off-glide stage the organs forming the obstruction part rapidly and the compressed air escapes from the mouth.

When uttering a word, however, we do not observe all three stages of sound production. Otherwise only separate sounds instead of words would be heard.

e.g. peel [p] [i:] [l]

The are two principal ways of linking two adjacent speech sounds:

1) merging of stages; 2) interpenetration of stages.

Merging takes place if two adjacent sounds of a different nature (i.e. pronounced with the different organs of speech or sections of the tongue) are joined together. In this case the end of the first sound and the beginning of the second one are articulated almost simultaneously.

[p2] [ i:2] [ l2]

peel [p1] [ i:1] [ p3] [ l1] [i:3] [ l3]

Interpenetration of stages usually takes place when consonants of a similar nature are joined. k2 t2

black tie k1 t1 k3 t3

The off-glide of [k] takes place during the stop-stage of [t]. The air stream is stopped by the obstruction of [ t ] and for this reason the plosion of [k] is not heard.

Different languages have their specific phonetic laws, as far as linking adjacent sounds is concerned. For example, the Russian cluster [кт] («факт») is pronounced with two plosions, because the sounds are joined together by merging of stages (the end of [k] almost coincides in time with the beginning of [m]).

As a result of mutual interaction of speech sounds in connected speech there is a number of phonetic processes such as assimilation, accomodation, elision and some others.

Section 2

[ b ]

(occlusive, plosive, bilabial, weak/lenis, voiced)

I. Practise the articulation of the sound [ b ]. Observe loss of plosion, nasal / lateral

plosions and correct pronunciation of the combination [ br ].

beauty ebb sobber hobnob sublet bread

boom cab obtain hobnail sublime bring

boy rib rub down cabman sublibrarian bride

boast sob club Dan submit Bob likes broom

ball rub rob Peter submarine Hob looks brow

best lab globe trotter Bob Mitchell rub Lester bright

II. Read the sentences. Follow the tonetic marks.

1. Be brief. Будьте лаконичны. / Короче.

2. A bad blunder. Грубая ошибка.

3. The biter’s bit. Попался, который кусался.

4. Bob’s as blind as a bat (beetle). Боб подслеповат.

5. Barbara’s as busy as a bee. Барбара – хлопотунья.

6. Bob is a big bug. Боб – большая шишка.

7. Bell has a bee in her bonnet. Белл с причудами.

8. Bab lives at the back of beyond. Бэб живет у черта на куличках.

9. Bram broke the back of the business. Брэм сделал самую тяжелую часть

работы.

III. Observe the correct pronunciation of the rhythmic groups and the vowels.

He was 'able to 'beat Bill. | He was 'able to 'beat 'Bill at billiards. | He

was 'able to 'beat 'Bill at 'billiards and baseball. ||

IV. Match the following English idioms, proverbs and sayings with their Russian

equivalents. Make up situations to illustrate their usage.

1. to beat about the bush a. твердо держаться правил

2. in smb’s black books b. тихо, шепотом

3. a bolt from the blue c. в немилости у кого-либо

4. go by the book d. ходить вокруг да около

5. to the best of my belief e. заниматься пустым делом

6. below one’s breath f. насколько мне известно

7. blow bubbles g. как гром с ясного неба

V. Practise the pronunciation of the following rhyme and learn it by heart.

Bacon and Eggs

by Sir A.P.Herbert

Now blest be the Briton, his beef and his beer,

And all the strong waters that keep him in cheer,

But blest beyond cattle and blest beyond kegs

Is the brave British breakfast of bacon and eggs –

Bacon and eggs, bacon and eggs;

Sing bacon, red bacon, red bacon and eggs!

O breakfast ! O breakfast ! The meal of my heart !

Bring porridge, bring sausage, bring fish for a start,

Bring kidney and mushrooms and partridges’ legs,

But let the foundation be bacon and eggs –

Bacon and eggs, bacon and eggs;

Bring bacon, crisp bacon, and let there be eggs !

VI. Pronounce the tongue twister in the quickest possible way. Observe the correct

articulation of [ b ].

A big blue bucket of blue blueberries.