should have → /ʃʊdəv/ (D + H enfraquece → “shoulda ...
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Flashcards in this deck (57)

  • should have

    ʃʊdəv [ /ʃʊdəv/ ]

    phrase reduction elision connected-speech

  • shouldn't have

    ʃʊdnəv [ /ʃʊdnəv/ ]

    phrase cluster-simplification consonant-cluster connected-speech

  • got to

    ɡɒtə [ /ɡɒtə/ ]

    phrase flapping/reduction weakening connected-speech

  • aren't you

    ɑːrntʃu [ /ɑːrntʃu/ ]

    phrase palatalization t+y→/tʃ/ connected-speech

  • let's head

    letshed [ /letshed/ ]

    phrase loss-of-explosion t-before-h connected-speech

  • held me

    helmi [ /helmi/ ]

    phrase nasalization d+m_transition connected-speech

  • just yet

    dʒʌsjet [ /dʒʌsjet/ ]

    phrase t-before-y palatalization connected-speech

  • first thing

    fɜrsθɪŋ [ /fɜrsθɪŋ/ ]

    phrase t-before-th assimilation connected-speech

  • slipped back

    slɪpbæk [ /slɪpbæk/ ]

    phrase assimilation-before-b consonant-assimilation connected-speech

  • looked through

    lʊkθru [ /lʊkθru/ ]

    phrase t-before-th cluster-interaction connected-speech

  • went black

    wenblæk [ /wenblæk/ ]

    phrase t-before-b assimilation connected-speech

  • good sleep

    ɡʊsliːp [ /ɡʊsliːp/ ]

    phrase voicing-influence d→s-influence connected-speech

  • and sprang

    æn spræŋ [ /æn spræŋ/ ]

    phrase d-before-s assimilation connected-speech

  • hang on

    hæŋɡɒn [ /hæŋɡɒn/ ]

    phrase linking ng+vowel-connection connected-speech

  • had been

    hæb biːn [ /hæb biːn/ ]

    phrase voicing-influence d→b-influence linked-syllables

  • deep brown

    diːb braʊn [ /diːb braʊn/ ]

    phrase p→b-approximation assimilation connected-speech

  • just like

    dʒʌs laɪk [ /dʒʌs laɪk/ ]

    phrase t-before-l linking connected-speech

  • next passer-by

    neks pæsər [ /neks pæsər/ ]

    phrase t-before-p cluster-simplification connected-speech

  • and startling

    ən stɑrtlɪŋ [ /ən stɑrtlɪŋ/ ]

    phrase d-before-s assimilation connected-speech

  • had to repair

    hæftə [ /hæftə/ ]

    phrase t+d→f flapping/weakening connected-speech

  • just about

    dʒʌsəbaʊt [ /dʒʌsəbaʊt/ ]

    phrase t-before-vowel linking-resyllabification connected-speech

  • given out

    gɪvənnaʊt [ /gɪvənnaʊt/ ]

    phrase nasal-gemination n-gemination-before connected-speech

  • spent hours

    spent hours [/spen taʊərz/]

    linking t-linking connected-speech

  • He’d had

    He'd had [/hi hæd/]

    cluster_simplification elision connected-speech

  • seemed to

    seemed to [/siːmdə/]

    elision t+t_reduction connected-speech

  • tried everything

    tried everything [/traɪdevery/]

    linking elision connected-speech

  • couldn’t get

    couldn't get [/kʊdn get/]

    elision assimilation_(voicing) connected-speech

  • walked the

    walked the [/wɔkðə/]

    assimilation_(place) linking connected-speech

  • looked up

    looked up [/lʊkʌp/]

    elision linking connected-speech

  • thought about

    thought about [/θɔdəbaʊt/]

    flapping t→flap connected-speech

  • weren’t many

    weren't many [/wɜrn meni/]

    elision t_before_nasals connected-speech

  • counted to

    counted to [/kaʊnədu/]

    flapping t+t_flap connected-speech

  • couldn’t help

    couldn't help [/kʊdn help/]

    elision weakening connected-speech

  • whipped around

    whipped around [/wɪpəraʊnd/]

    linking resyllabification connected-speech

  • started to

    started to [/stɑrdə/]

    flapping t+t_flap connected-speech

  • must’ve been

    must've been [/mʌstəv/]

    t+v_reduction elision connected-speech

  • wouldn’t stop

    wouldn't stop [/wʊdn stɑp/]

    elision t_before_s-cluster connected-speech

  • caught up

    caught up [/kɑdəp/]

    flapping t→flap connected-speech

  • tripped over

    tripped over [/trɪpoʊvər/]

    cluster_simplification linking connected-speech

  • skinned knee

    skinned knee [/skɪn ni/]

    nasalization gemination connected-speech

  • get back

    get back [/gebæk/]

    assimilation_(place) t_influences_b connected-speech

  • dad notices

    dad notices [/dædnɑtɪsəz/]

    nasalization resyllabification connected-speech

  • walked and

    walked and [/wɔkən/]

    elision linking connected-speech

  • walk

    walk

    verb regular-past_-ed connected-speech_example

  • look

    look

    verb regular-past_-ed connected-speech_example

  • right

    right

    adjective direction-word connected-speech_example

  • direction

    direction

    noun location connected-speech_example

  • could

    could

    modal-verb contraction:_couldn't connected-speech_example

  • see

    see

    verb perception connected-speech_example

  • assimilation

    assimilation

    phonology core-concept place-and-voicing

  • elision

    elision

    phonology core-concept weakening-or-deletion

  • flapping

    flapping

    phonology core-concept t-d-alternation

  • palatalization

    palatalization

    phonology core-concept t+y→/tʃ/

  • linking

    linking

    phonology core-concept resyllabification

  • nasalization

    nasalization

    phonology core-concept nasal-sound-effects

  • resyllabification

    resyllabification

    phonology core-concept linking

  • suffix -ed

    suffix -ed

    grammar pronunciation regular-past
Study Notes

Overview

Connected speech reduces or alters sounds at word boundaries in casual English; this makes isolated pronunciations different from fluent speech and affects comprehension and transcription.

Key processes (brief definitions)

  • Assimilation — a sound changes to become more like a neighboring sound (place or voicing). Example: voiceless stops becoming voiced before voiced consonants.
  • Elision / weakening — sounds are omitted or reduced, especially unstressed vowels or weak consonants (e.g., D or T weakening to schwa-like sounds).
  • Flapping — alveolar stops /t/ or /d/ become a flap (quick tap) between vowels, making writer and rider sound similar in American English.
  • Palatalization (T+Y → CH) — sequences like /t/ + /j/ become affricates (/tʃ/) in fast speech (e.g., aren't you → /ɑːrntʃu/).
  • Linking and resyllabification — consonants at word edges connect to following vowels (e.g., hang on → /hæŋɡɒn/).
  • Nasalization & gemination — nasals can cause neighboring consonants to nasalize or double (e.g., given out → /gɪvənnaʊt/).
  • Voicing influence / place shift — consonants influence each other across word boundaries (D→B, P→B approximations).

Common patterns with examples

  • D or T influences next consonant (voicing/weakening):
  • should have → /ʃʊdəv/ ("shoulda")
  • shouldn’t have → /ʃʊdnəv/ (cluster simplification)
  • had been → /hæb biːn/ (D → B influence)
  • had to repair → /hæftə/ (D+T → /f/ "hafta")
  • must’ve been → /mʌstəv/ (T+V simplifies)

  • He’d had → /hi hæd/ (cluster simplified)

  • T assimilation, elision, flapping and linking:

  • got to → /ɡɒtə/ ("gotta")
  • started to → /stɑrdə/ (T+T → flap)
  • thought about → /θɔdəbaʊt/ (T becomes flap or weak)
  • count ed to → /kaʊnədu/ (T+T flap)
  • caught up → /kɑdəp/ (T flap before vowel)

  • looked up → /lʊkʌp/ (T weak before vowel)

  • T before H or H-initial words:

  • let’s head → /letshed/ (T loses release before H)

  • looked the same → /lʊkðə/ (T weak before /ð/)

  • T before liquids or glides (L, R, Y):

  • just like → /dʒʌs laɪk/ (T weak before /l/)

  • aren’t you → /ɑːrntʃu/ (T+Y → /tʃ/)

  • Assimilation to following consonant (place change):

  • slipped back → /slɪpbæk/ (T assimilates to /b/)
  • went black → /wenblæk/ (T → /b/ assimilation)
  • get back → /gebæk/ (T influences B)

  • slapped over/tripped over → /trɪpoʊvər/ (cluster simplify)

  • Fricative/affricate changes and palatalization:

  • aren’t you → /ɑːrntʃu/ (T+Y → /tʃ/)

  • first thing → /fɜrsθɪŋ/ (T near /θ/ influence)

  • Nasal linking / nasalization / gemination:

  • hang on → /hæŋɡɒn/ (ng links to following vowel)
  • given out → /gɪvənnaʊt/ (geminated /n/ before vowel)

  • dad notices → /dædnɑtɪsəz/ (D+N nasal transition)

  • Voicing or place approximations (stop → voiced or approximated):

  • deep brown → /diːb braʊn/ (P → B approximation)
  • good sleep → /ɡʊsliːp/ (D influences /s/)

  • had been → /hæb biːn/ (D → B)

  • Weak forms and reductions with auxiliaries/modals:

  • wouldn’t stop → /wʊdn stɑp/ (T weak before /s/)
  • couldn’t get → /kʊdn get/ (T weak before /g/)
  • couldn’t help → /kʊdn help/ (T weak before /h/)
  • seemed to → /siːmdə/ (D+T simplified)
  • tried everything → /traɪdevery/ (D links and weakens)

Rules & triggers (practical summary)

  • If a word-final alveolar stop (/t/ or /d/) meets a following consonant, it often assimilates, drops release, or simplifies the cluster.
  • Before voiced consonants, voiceless stops may voice or be influenced toward voicing; before voiceless consonants they may remain unchanged or be elided.
  • Before vowels, boundary consonants often link to the vowel (resyllabification), producing glides or geminates.
  • Sequences of /t/ or /d/ + /j/ (Y) often palatalize to /tʃ/ or /dʒ/ (e.g., aren’t you → /ɑːrntʃu/).
  • Repeated alveolar stops across word boundaries often become a flap in fast American English (e.g., T+T → flap between vowels).

How to study and practice

  • Listen for boundary changes in natural speech (podcasts, movies) and try to transcribe casual pronunciations.
  • Shadow native speakers, pronouncing phrases quickly and then slowly to note which sounds change.
  • Drill minimal pairs and boundary pairs (e.g., could n't help /kʊdn hɛlp/ vs. could help /kʊd hɛlp/) to hear contrasts.
  • Practice labeling examples by process: write the phrase, state the process (assimilation, flapping, linking), and produce the reduced transcription.

Quick checklist for transcription of connected speech

  • Identify word boundary between consonant and consonant, or consonant and vowel.
  • Ask: does voicing, place, or manner change? (assimilation)
  • Check for dropped releases or missing consonants (elision).
  • Look for palatalization with /j/, flapping between vowels, or nasal linking.

Selected example list (compact reference)

  • should have → /ʃʊdəv/
  • shouldn’t have → /ʃʊdnəv/
  • got to → /ɡɒtə/
  • aren’t you → /ɑːrntʃu/
  • let’s head → /letshed/
  • held me → /helmi/
  • just yet → /dʒʌsjet/
  • first thing → /fɜrsθɪŋ/
  • slipped back → /slɪpbæk/
  • looked through → /lʊkθru/
  • went black → /wenblæk/
  • good sleep → /ɡʊsliːp/
  • and sprang → /æn spræŋ/
  • hang on → /hæŋɡɒn/
  • had been → /hæb biːn/
  • deep brown → /diːb braʊn/
  • just like → /dʒʌs laɪk/
  • next passer-by → /neks pæsər/
  • had to repair → /hæftə/
  • just about → /dʒʌsəbaʊt/
  • given out → /gɪvənnaʊt/
  • spent hours → /spen taʊərz/
  • seemed to → /siːmdə/
  • tried everything → /traɪdevery/
  • couldn’t get → /kʊdn get/
  • walked the → /wɔkðə/
  • thought about → /θɔdəbaʊt/
  • weren’t many → /wɜrn meni/
  • counted to → /kaʊnədu/
  • whipped around → /wɪpəraʊnd/
  • looked around → /lʊkəraʊnd/
  • must’ve been → /mʌstəv/
  • wouldn’t stop → /wʊdn stɑp/
  • caught up → /kɑdəp/
  • tripped over → /trɪpoʊvər/
  • skinned knee → /skɪn ni/
  • get back → /gebæk/
  • dad notices → /dædnɑtɪsəz/
  • walked and → /wɔkən/
  • right direction → /raɪd dərekʃən/
  • couldn’t see → /kʊdn si/

These notes prioritize patterns you will repeatedly encounter; focus on hearing the changes, labeling the process, and practicing reduced forms aloud.