One of the first things you'll notice about native speakers is that they don't speak word by word. Instead, their words are connected and linked. This is a great way to help you sound more fluent.
Today we will introduce the four basic principles of liaisons, which means the connections between words that allow us to speak in sound groups rather than in individual words.
Words are mostly connected in 4 main situations:
单词在以下四种情况下连读：
1. Consonant/vowel
辅音／元音
2. Consonant/consonant
辅音／辅音
3. Vowel/vowel
元音／元音
4. T, D, S or Z+Y
T, D, S 或 Z + Y
Let's start with the first situation:
Liaison Rule #1: consonant/vowel
辅音／元音
Words are connected when a word ends in a consonant sound and the next word starts with a vowel sound.
当一个单词一辅音结尾，而下一个单词一元音开头，单词之间要连读。
Examples:
“My name is” sounds like “mai nay-miz”
“LA” sounds like “eh-lay”
“902” sounds like “nai-no-too”
What’s the difference between a vowel and a consonant?
元音和辅音之间的区别是什么？
A vowel can be pronounced without any part of the mouth, tongue, or lips coming into contact with any other part.
A consonant touches your mouth at some point. Try saying “b” with your mouth open. Now try saying “a.” Notice that your lips must come together in order to pronounce the “b” sound.
Let’s try a few more examples:
Fall off
Follow up on
Hold on
Turn over
Come in
Take out
Sell it
Tip 发音窍门：
All of these examples are words that end in a consonant sound followed with a vowel sound. They naturally blend together. You can feel each sound pushing into the next.
所有这些情况下的词，一个词的辅音尾音和下一个词的首音元音都是连在一起的。你能感觉到前一个音推着进入后一个。比如sell it, l和i相连，变成lit, sellit.
Liaison Rule #2: consonant/consonant
辅音／辅音
Words are connected when a word ends in a consonant sound and the next word starts with a consonant that is in a similar position.
当一个单词一辅音结尾，而下一个单词一发音部位相似的辅音开头，单词间要连读。
What is a similar position?
什么是相似部位呢？
There are three general locations where consonants are pronounced: the lips, behind the teeth, or in the throat.
Sounds such as P, B, F, V, M and W are pronounced at the lips.
P, B, F, V, M 和 W 的音是用嘴唇发出来。
Sounds such as T, D, CH, J, L, N, S, Z, SH, ZH, and Y are pronounced behind the teeth.
T, D, CH, J, L, N, S, Z, SH, ZH, 和 Y 的音是在牙齿后面发出来。
Sounds such as K, G, H, NG, and R are pronounced in the throat.
K, G, H, NG, 和 R 的音是用喉咙发出来。
Examples:
“I just didn’t get the chance” sounds like “I jus didn’t ge’ the chance”
The “st” and “d” are near each other in the mouth, so they flow into each other, eliminating the sound ofthe “t” and combining “just” and “didn’t.” “The” flows from “get,” so the “t” sound is similarly eliminated.
“I’ve been late twice” sounds like “I’v been lay’twice”
The v and b sounds are located in a similar position, as are n and l. The “t” sound flow from “late” to “twice,” so you only hear it pronounced once.
Tip 发音窍门：
As you can see, because the ending sound of the word is very similar to the beginning sound of the next word, it’s not worth the effort to start the sound all over again.
Instead, just blend them together.
这个情况下，一个词的结尾和第二个词的开始音非常相似，所以口语里大家可以偷个懒，不用在重新开始一个新音节。把两个混合起来就行。
Liaison Rule #3: vowel/vowel
元音／元音
When a word ending in a vowel sound comes before a word beginning with a vowel sound, they are connected with a glide between the two vowels. A glide is either a slight “y” or “w” sound.
当一个一元音结尾的单词紧邻着一个以元音开头的单词时，它们由两个元音之间的一个滑音连接起来。
Examples:
“Go away” sounds like “go(w) away”
Since “go” ends on your lips in the forward position, a “w” sounds natural leading into the next vowel sound of “away.”
“I also need the other one” sounds like “I(y) also need thee(y) other one”
After a long “e” sound, your lips will be pulled back to naturally make the “y” glide.
More examples:
Go anywhere
So honest
I asked
To open
She always
Tip 发音窍门：
After a long sound, your lips will be pulled back far enough to create a y glide or liaison. Don't force this sound too much. It’s not a strong pushing sound.
在一个长音ē后，你会感觉双唇被向后拉，就好像咧嘴笑的时候。这时，会产生滑音y或连音。大家咧几次嘴，练习一下上面的例子，就会找到感觉了。不过，也不用太刻意追求这个滑音，因为它不是一个强推音。
Liaison Rule #4: T, D, S, or Z + Y
T, D, S 或 Z + Y
When the letter or sound of T, D, S, or Z is followed by a word that starts with or sounds like Y, both sounds are connected.
当字母或发音为T，D，S，Z的音后面紧跟着以字母Y或Y音开头的单词时，两个音之间连读。
Rule: t + y = ch
“What’s your name?” sounds like “wa’cher name”
“Actually” sounds like “ak’chully”
“Wouldn’t you” sounds like “wooden chew”
“We thought you weren’t coming” sounds like “we tho’chew wrnt k’ming”
Rule: d + y = j
“Did you see it?” sounds like “didju see(y) it”
“Where did you send your check?” sounds like “wherju senjer check”
“We followed your instructions” sounds like “we fallow jerin structions” “Education” sounds like“e’jucation”
Rule: s + y = sh
“Yes, you are” sounds like “yeshu are”
“Insurance” sounds like “inshurance”
“Bless you!” sounds like “blesshu”
“I’ll try to guess your age” sounds like “al tryda geshurage”
Rule: z + y = zh
“How’s your family?” sounds like “how’zhur fam'lee”
“Who’s your friend?” sounds like “hoozhur frend”
“When’s your birthday?” sounds like “wenzh’r brthday”
“Visual” sounds like “vi’zhyu’el”
Tip 发音窍门：
If you find it unnatural to pronounce some of the liason sounds in sentences, do not force it too much. Not all Americans follow these liason rules.
But individual words need to be pronounced correctly, e.g. "actually", "usually". Make sure you get those right.
如果你觉得发词组连音很不自然、很困难，没关系，因为很多美国人也不完全这样发音。
但是单词的相应发音规律一定要掌握。比如 "actually", "usually"，这些一定要按照规律读正确。
Colloquial Reductions and Liaisons
口语简说和连音
Many native speakers will shorten often-used phrases and sentences due to colloquial reductions or any of the various liaison rules. Don’t go out of your way to say them, but if they come naturally to you, you will sound more like a native speaker.
这些常用口语简说也能让你的口语听起来很流畅。当然，不需要每一条都遵守，但是常用的、你觉得最容易说的一些，可以应用起来。
Example phrases:
例句
“let me” shortened to “lemme”
“got to” or “got a” shortened to “gotta”
“want to” or “want a” shortened to “wanna”
“how is it” shortened to “howzit”
Example sentences:
例句
“I have got to go” might sound like “I’ve gotta go”
“Do you want a banana?” might sound like “Wanna banana”
“Did you do it?” might sound like “Di’ja do it”
“Not yet” might sound like “Na’chet”
“Why don’t you try it?” might sound like “Why donchu try it”
“How is it going?” might sound like “Howzit going?”
“He has got to hurry because he is late” might sound like “He’s gotta hurry ‘cuz he’s late”
“Tell him that I miss him” might sound like “Tellim I missim”
That's it for today's lesson. We've learned about the four main situations when we can use liaisons to form sound groups in order to make our sentences flow more easily. We also learned about colloquial reductions that'll help us sound more natural, like a native English speaker.
Stay tuned for our next lesson on contractions! We love hearing from you, so send us any questions or feedback!
