#262 Why You Can't Understand Native Speakers (Elision)
Mar 6, 2024
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Explore the nuances of elision in pronunciation, differences between textbook and spoken English, and examples like past tense ED endings. Discover insights on traditional British dishes, resistance to change in pronunciation, and the importance of self-belief in clear speech.
Understanding elision in pronunciation is crucial for improving fluency in spoken English.
Recognizing speech patterns like elision helps in accurate language comprehension and smoother communication.
Deep dives
Understanding Elision in Pronunciation
Elision in pronunciation, specifically focusing on the concept of connecting speech through the omission of certain sounds or syllables, is discussed in this episode of the podcast. The example of linking T sounds between words to sound more natural is highlighted, emphasizing the significance of understanding these pronunciation features to improve spoken language fluency.
Exploring the Concept of Illusion
The podcast delves into the concept of illusion, which involves omitting sounds or syllables in speech for easier articulation. Through examples like the pronunciation of past tense -ed words like "walked," where the final sound may be dropped when followed by a similar sound, the importance of recognizing these speech patterns for accurate language comprehension is underscored.
Notable Examples of Pronunciation Changes
Various everyday words like 'camera,' 'fish and chips,' and 'doing' are analyzed for their pronunciation alterations due to elision, where certain sounds are omitted to facilitate smoother speech. By providing insights into these shifts in pronunciation and offering relatable examples, the episode enhances listeners' awareness of how language evolves in spoken communication.
Textbook English is different from spoken English, and a big part of this comes down to pronunciation and how things are said in real conversations.
This is Part 2 in my series on pronunciation, where we first looked at Linking in Episode 255, and now we're looking at Elision. These are both features of connected speech that share some similarities.
In this episode, I share an example of elision followed by a question or challenge for myself that I also ask you (the listeners) to do as well!