All Ears English Podcast AEE 1233: How to Hang On When Natives Speak Fast
Sep 26, 2019
Discover how to tackle the challenge of understanding fast-speaking natives. Unpack the nostalgia of 90s grunge music while exploring pronunciation puzzles. Learn about linked sounds and how they affect comprehension in casual conversations. Dive into the concept of connected speech and assimilation for clearer communication. Explore subtle shifts in consonant pronunciation that enhance efficiency. Finally, grasp the nuances of American English across various accents for a richer listening experience.
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Connected Speech
- Native speakers link words in four distinct ways, called connected speech.
- These patterns make it difficult for non-native speakers to understand fast speech.
Assimilation
- Assimilation changes a word's sound when two sounds are near each other, like "ten boys" becoming "temboys".
- This happens because pronouncing N and B consecutively is challenging due to their different mouth positions.
Handbag Example
- "Handbag" becomes "hambag" due to assimilation, simplifying consonant clusters.
- This demonstrates how pronunciation changes for ease of speech.