Consonants in Contact. Modifications in Consonant Clusters

LINKING

Rules for Linking Sounds in English

Rule 1: When a stop consonant is followed by another stop or by an affricate, the first stop is not released, which facilitates the linking:

E.g. pet_ cat. soap_ dish. big_ dipper.

good_ jury big_ church

Rule 2: When two identical consonants come together, there is one single

E.g.: stop_ pushing. Rob_ Bill. less_ serious.

Rule 3: Linking ‘r’. Those British speakers who don’t pronounce final ‘r’ will reintroduce it when the next word begins with a vowel.

E.g.: more_ interest.

four_ inches.

Rule 4: When a word ending in a single consonant is followed by a word beginningwith a vowel, the consonant is pronounced intervocalically as if it belonged to both syllables. For example, in the phrase ‘The dish is pretty’, ‘dish is’ sounds exactly like ‘dishes’.

E.g. dog_ eat dog

black_ and grey

Rule 5.When a word or syllable ending in a consonant cluster is followed by a word or syllable beginning with a vowel, the final consonant of the cluster is often pronounced as part of the following syllable. The phenomenon is sometimes referred to as resyllabification.

E.g. lef/t_ arm wep/t_ over

fin/d_ out push/ed_ up

Rule 6: When a word that ends in a vowelis followed by a wordthat begins with a vowel,English speakers will often insert an extra sound in order to link the vowels together to make the flow of speech smoother and to avoid the ‘gap’ between the words (either a pause or unnecessary glottal stop).

Consonantal glides [w] and [j]

E. g. play(j) a game how^w often

tie(j) it up throw^w it all.

they(j) are slow^w and steady

cre(j)ate snow^wy

Deletion (also known as elision or omission): the process in which sounds disappear or are not clearly articulated in certain contexts

1. Loss of [t] or [d] when they occur second in a sequence or cluster of three consonants:

[t] restless, listless, exactly

[d] kindness, windmill, hands

2. Deletion of word-final [t] or [d] in clusters of two at a word boundary when the following word begins with a consonant:

East side

blind man

wild boar

3. Loss of initial [h] and [ð] in pronominal forms:

ask her, help him, tell them

Practical Assignments

Consonants in Contact. Modifications in Consonant Clusters

Task 1. Clusters with plosives: plosive+plosive, plosive+nasal sonorant, plosive+lateral sonorant

Task 1.1.Pronounce the following words and word combinations, observing loss of plosion.

stepparent at dawn bookkeeper topcoat feedback

deep breath at dusk background stop calling good-bye

sharp pain at dinner big grief keep doing good bargain

herb bread at times talk calmly keep quiet great passion

step back about twelve look gorgeous flip copy sad picture

rob people sidetrack league club sharp contrast night club

sceptic crept outcome take pictures knocked

laptop stopped headquarters lack patience packed

step down peeped quite common cheque book mocked

top ten slipped at Christmas look back hooked

keep down dubbed great courage big business lagged

a sharp tongue rubbed bad quality Big Ben begged

Task 1.2. Pronounce the following words observing nasal plosion.

at noon certain brighten politeness fattening

right now garden lighten smartness sweetening

good news sudden heighten rudeness hardening

Good night pardon broaden kindness frightening

weakness thickening dark night

plumpness sickening big nation

darkness quickening lip narrowing

ripeness deepening up north

statement gold medal stigma quick mind

ointment not much blackmail black market

resentment beyond measure equipment big money

excitement Good morning shipment top marks

Task 1.3. Pronounce the following words, observing lateral plosion.

clothes handle spotless amply

glimpse jungle hopeless likely

plain battle topless briskly

claim cycle groundless hardly

blame ramble endless rightly

plunge sample reckless weakly

at large pot luck It’ll be fun

at length good looks It’ll be late

at last hot line Good luck

at least top layer Speak louder

hard life traffic lights Little by little

Task 1.4. Act out the following conversational contexts. Mind modifications in consonant clusters within words and at word boundaries.

1. She didn’t reply. – Please write to her again, then.

2. I had to wait three hours. – What a shame! Bad luck!

3. I won’t be able to phone you. – Send me a message then.

4. It’s all very puzzling. – I couldn’t agree more.

5. It was most kind of you. – I was glad I was able to help.

Don’t mention it.

6. She won’t be back till ten. – Then I’ll ring her later.

7. You look smart in this coat. – Does it really suit me?

8. Do you feel like going to the cinema? – I’d love to.

9. Couldn’t you take a day off? – Well, it might be possible.

10. I’m dreadfully sorry, but I’ve – Oh, that doesn’t matter.

broken a plate.

11. There’s a talk show at eight o’clock. – We mustn’t miss that.

12. What do you think of this film? – It’s not bad.

13. Let’s have dinner out tonight. – That’s a good idea. Why not go

for a walk first.

14. What dress do you think I’d better – Oh, I don’t know.

put on?

15. Seen my hat anywhere? – What colour is it?

Task 2. Dental variants of alveolar consonants before the interdental [θ], [ð].

Task 2.1. Pronounce the following words and phrases.

the seventh filthy as the others

the ninth healthy as the following

the tenth wealthy as though worried

the eighth stealthy as that fellow

the hundredth although as the workman

in the 40s on the whole at the top

in the morning on the contrary at the bottom

in the evening on the surface at the front

in the end on the left at the back

Tell the truth. Write the word.

Close the door. Open the brackets.

Read the rule. Shut the window.

Fill the gap. Quite the opposite.

He was thirty yesterday. She likes the author immensely.

It was Thursday, not Saturday. He wants this thermometer instantly.

It was thundering and storming. He supports these theological theories.

Task 2.2. Act out the following conversational contexts.

1. Can I book two seats for tomorrow. – Would you like something in the

night? second row?

2. I’ve just been promoted. –That’s the best news I’ve heard for

a long time.

3. Is there anything worth watching – I think it’s a documentary.

on the other channel?

4. Excuse me, but I’m trying to find –Take the second turn on the right

the lady’s room. and go straight on.

5. Could the manager see me – I’m sorry he won’t be in till ten-

tomorrow before nine-thirty? thirty.

6. Why don’t they work in the evenings? – Some of them do, I believe.

7. What’s the matter with your brother? – I think overworking.

8. Monday’s the day off. – It’s Thursday, as far as I

remember.

9. She’s thirty-five this Thursday. – I didn’t know that.

10. Are you always as busy as that? – June’s the worst month of the year.

Date: 2016-01-03; view: 2079