1. Phonetics & Phonology John Corbett: USP-CAPES International Fellow
Session 4: Sounds in context: elision, assimilation, etc

2. Changing the shape of a word
This session:
Strong and weak forms
Connected speech processes:
Assimilation
Elision
Coalescence
‘Linking’ and ‘intrusive’ /r/
Changing the shape of a word

3. A set of words in English have
‘strong’ forms – stressed
‘weak’ forms - unstressed
Strong and weak forms

4. Strong and weak forms Example I was here strong /wɔz/
I was here weak /wəz/ /wɪz/ /wʌz/ etc
Strong and weak forms

5. Strong and weak forms 60+ such words in English strong weak
of cup of tea /ɔv/ /əv/, /ɪv/ etc
them tell them about it /ðɛm/ /ðəm/, /ðm/
him I said to him /hɪm/ /ɪm/
that all that he said /ðat/ /ðət/ etc
will I’ll go /wɪl/ /l/
would I’d go /wud/ /d/
and fish and chips /and/ /n/ …
Strong and weak forms

6. Identify the weak forms

7. Connected speech processes: Assimilation
When one segment becomes more similar to a neighbouring sound, because of the influence of that sound
in Paisley /n/  /m/ before /p/
in Carluke /n/  /ŋ/ before /k/
this shop /s/  /ʃ/ before /ʃ/
(cf. fish shop)
Connected speech processes: Assimilation

8. Connected speech processes: Elision
Loss of segment(s) or syllable(s)
brand new elision of /d/
last night elision of /t/
class tests [tɛsː] elision of second /t/
policemen’s vests [plismnz vɛsː] elision of /ə/, /t/
Worcester library’s opening on Wednesdays in February
Connected speech processes: Elision

9. Connected speech processes: Elision
Transcribe this!!
Worcester library’s opening on Wednesdays in February!
Connected speech processes: Elision

10. Connected speech processes: Elision
Transcribe this!!
Worcester library’s opening on Wednesdays in February!
/wu:stə laɪbriz əʊpnɪŋ ən wɛnzdeɪz n fɛbrɪ/
Connected speech processes: Elision

11. second hand policemen’s vests
Connected speech processes: Elision + Assimilation can apply in sequence
second hand policemen’s vests
/hand p…/
/han p…/ elision
/ham p…/ + assimilation

12. second hand policemen’s vest shop
/vɛst ʃ…/
/vɛs ʃ …/ elision
/vɛʃ ʃ …/ + assimilation
Connected speech processes: Elision + Assimilation can apply in sequence

13. When two phonemes merge to produce a third, different phoneme
e.g. would you /d j/  /ʤ/
/wud ju/  /wuʤu/
Coalescence

14. The pronunciation of /r/ at the ends of words in accents that don’t normally have /r/ in this position (a.k.a. non-rhotic accents)
beer /bir/ (ScE) /bɪə/ (RP)
beer and wine /bɪər ən waɪn/ (RP)
far /far/ (ScE) /fɑ/ (RP)
far away /fɑr əweɪ/ (RP)
‘Linking’ /r/

15. Like linking /r/, but in words where there is no <r> in the spelling.
idea /aɪdɪə/ (RP)
the idea of it /aɪdɪər əv ɪt/ (RP)
law /lɔ/ (RP)
law and order /lɔr ən ɔdə/ (RP)
‘Intrusive’ /r/
And was not one historically
Some scots do it in idear

16. Q. Why do connected speech processes happen?
A. Because the vocal organs aren’t like the keys of a typewriter.
They don’t move discretely (i.e. in jumps), but continuously
Skilled movements are smooth and efficient
We prepare in advance for upcoming articulations
We leave out non-essential parts
Q. Why do connected speech processes happen?

17. There are some problems affecting some Portuguese speakers of English when they pronounce sounds in sequence, e.g.
The insertion of intrusive or extra (´epenthetic´ vowels) between, before or after consonants. Try saying the following words:
clothes /kləʊðz/
steam /sti:m/
park /pɑ:k/
gate /geɪt/
cab /kæb/
How would you teach learners to correct the first of these words?
To hear these intrusive sounds listen to the Brazilian puma saying ´space´ in the following clip:
Transfer issues

18. Sometimes, however, some Portuguese speakers of English drop final unstressed vowels, or unstressed vowels towards the end of words. Try pronouncing the following words:
city /sɪte/
coffee /kɒfe/
office /ɒfɪs/
Watch the Brazilian puma clip again. Can you hear any examples of dropped unstressed vowels? Are there any other transfer issues with the puma’s pronunciation?
More transfer issues

19. Summary Connected speech processes -
They can change the shape of a word:
BUT they don´t necessarily make words more difficult to understand for L1 speakers
They may offer a challenge to L2 learners´ listening.
Since the phonological systems of Brazilian Portuguese and English are different, there might be ´negative transfer´ of Brazilian Portuguese phonological processes to English speech.
Summary