1. What is linking?
One of the reasons non-native speakers have problems understanding and pronouncing English is because of linking. Linking occurs when a word ends in a consonant and the following word starts with a vowel. The consonant sound is linked with the vowel when it is pronounced. For example in the phrase ‘that’s enough’- the ‘s’ in that’s is linked to the ‘e’ in enough. and sounds like thats senough.
1. What is linking?
One of the reasons non-native speakers have problems understanding and pronouncing English is because of linking. Linking occurs when a word ends in a consonant and the following word starts with a vowel. The consonant sound is linked with the vowel when it is pronounced. For example in the phrase ‘that’s enough’- the ‘s’ in that’s is linked to the ‘e’ in enough. and sounds like thats senough.
Look at the examples below. The linked letters are in bold and underlined. The first sentence will be with proper enunciation, and the second with linked enunciation.
| That’s enough.
(That’s senough) |
| Bring an apple and a book.
(Bring gan napple and da book.) |
| Now is a time for all of us to pack it in.
(Now wis sa time for rall lof vus to pack kit tin |
| Lemons and oranges are not available in Autumn.
(Lemons sand doranges are not tavailable in nautumn) |
2. Types of linking
There are basically two types of linking:
- consonant > vowel
We link words ending with a consonant sound to words beginning with a vowel sound - vowel > vowel
We link words ending with a vowel sound to words beginning with a vowel sound
A. Linking Consonant to Vowel
When a word ends in a consonant sound, we often move the consonant sound to the beginning of the next word if it starts with a vowel sound.
For example, in the phrase “turn off”:
We write it like this: turn off
We say it like this: tur noff
Remember that it’s the sound that matters. In the next example, “have” ends with:
the letter “e” (vowel) the sound “v” (consonant)
So we link “have” to the next word “a” which begins with a vowel sound:
We write it like this: Can I have a bit of egg?
We say it like this: Ca-nI-ha-va-bi-to-fegg?
B. Linking Vowel to Vowel
When one word ends with a vowel sound and the next word begins with a vowel sound, we link the words with a sort of W or Y sound.
If our lips are round at the end of the first word, we insert a W sound:
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If our lips are wide at the end of the first word, we insert a Y sound:
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Look at the examples below. The linked letters are in bold and underlined. The first sentence will be with proper enunciation, and the second with linked enunciation.
| That’s enough.
(That’s senough) |
| Bring an apple and a book.
(Bring gan napple and da book.) |
| Now is a time for all of us to pack it in.
(Now wis sa time for rall lof vus to pack kit tin |
| Lemons and oranges are not available in Autumn.
(Lemons sand doranges are not tavailable in nautumn) |
2. Types of linking
There are basically two types of linking:
- consonant > vowel
We link words ending with a consonant sound to words beginning with a vowel sound - vowel > vowel
We link words ending with a vowel sound to words beginning with a vowel sound
A. Linking Consonant to Vowel
When a word ends in a consonant sound, we often move the consonant sound to the beginning of the next word if it starts with a vowel sound.
For example, in the phrase “turn off”:
We write it like this: turn off
We say it like this: tur noff
Remember that it’s the sound that matters. In the next example, “have” ends with:
the letter “e” (vowel) the sound “v” (consonant)
So we link “have” to the next word “a” which begins with a vowel sound:
We write it like this: Can I have a bit of egg?
We say it like this: Ca-nI-ha-va-bi-to-fegg?
B. Linking Vowel to Vowel
When one word ends with a vowel sound and the next word begins with a vowel sound, we link the words with a sort of W or Y sound.
If our lips are round at the end of the first word, we insert a W sound:
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|
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If our lips are wide at the end of the first word, we insert a Y sound:
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