Linking Patterns

LINKING OF WORDS

In connected speech in English, individual words run into one another. Think of words joined together like this: putitaway. Or imagine that the last letter of a word becomes the first letter of the next word - if the second word begins with vowel.

A big apple = a bi gapple; read a book = rea da book.

In English, unlike Czech, words which begin with a vowel are not preceded by a glottal stop. (For more information on the glottal stop see here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1002808 or, in Czech, here: http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A1z)

An initial vowel then, attracts another sound to it – usually the final consonant of the preceding word. Here are some linking patterns.

Make sure you don’t use the glottal stop before the vowel sound.

1. Link the plosives /p/, /b/,/t/ /d/, /k/ /g/ to a following vowel.

Practice: Giving advice.

My neck◡aches.

-Wrap◡it in◡a scarf.

-Drink◡a cup◡of tea.

-Take◡an◡aspirin.

-Don‘t think◡about◡it.

-Rub◡it.

I’ve got◡a big◡emerald ring.

-Put◡it◡on.

-Keep◡it safe.

-Lock◡it◡up.

-Take◡it to the bank.

-Put◡it◡in◡a big◡envelope◡and hide◡it◡under the bed.

I’ve got◡ a week off. What shall I do?

-Make◡a dress.

-Knit◡a jumper.

-Read◡a book.

-Paint◡a picture.

-Sit◡and relax.

What would◡Anne like for Christmas?

-a big◡ umbrella.

-a bag◡and some gloves.

-a book◡on music.

-a red◡and white scarf.

2.Link fricatives and affricates /v/,/f/, /ð/, /θ/ /z/, /s/, /ʒ/,/ʃ/,/ʤ/, /ʧ/ to a following vowel.

A: What do you want to do when you leave school?

B. I want to move◡into◡ /w/◡ a flat with some friends.

A: It’s less◡expensive to live◡at home.

B. I’m going to give◡a party.

A: Don’t damage◡anything!

B. I want to buy myself◡a sports car.

A: Don’t crash◡into◡ /w/◡ anything!

B: I want to catch◡a plane to South◡America.

A: Arrange◡a cheap flight!

B. What do you want to do when you leave school?

A: I want to get◡a job in◡a large◡organization, ◡and save◡all my money.

3. Link /r/ to a following vowel.

A: We’ve been waiting for◡ /r/◡ an hour◡ /r/◡ and◡a half.

B: Tell them that your◡ /r/◡aunt◡is very ill. A doctor◡ /r/◡ ought to see her◡ /r/◡ at◡once.

A: There isn’t◡a doctor◡ /r/◡ available. They’re◡ /r/◡ all busy.

B: Ask◡a receptionist to hurry◡/j/◡ up.

A: I’ve asked her◡ /r/◡over◡ /r/◡ and over◡ /r/◡ again. The more◡ /r/◡ I ask,

the longer◡ /r/◡ I wait.

If there is no consonant, an extra sound is inserted between the words. Here are the patterns.

4.Link vowels /i:/, /ɪ/,/eɪ/,/aɪ/, /ɔɪ/ to a following vowel using /j/.

very◡/j/◡ interesting

the story is very◡/j/◡ interesting

The end◡of the story is very◡/j/◡ interesting.

a lovely◡/j/◡ ice cream

I always◡enjoy◡/j/◡ a lovely◡/j/◡ ice cream.

a day◡/j/◡ or two

stay◡/j/◡ at home for◡ /r/◡a day◡/j/◡ or two

I ought to stay◡/j/◡ at home for◡ /r/◡a day◡/j/◡ or two.