When I am learning about pronunciation of English, I found a word called linking. The word seems about pronunciation.
What is linking? And how can I learn correct linking in pronunciation?
When I am learning about pronunciation of English, I found a word called linking. The word seems about pronunciation.
What is linking? And how can I learn correct linking in pronunciation?
In the context of pronunciation, linking refers to joining words together so that they sound like a single word. In speech, words are usually not separated by pauses or breaks but are pronounced as a continuous stream of sounds. This is also known as connected speech and does not only exist in spoken English.
When two words are pronounced together, they can get "linked" or joined by certain changes in pronunciation.
/ə/
)./j/
may be added between two vowels, as in "play out" (/pleɪjaʊt/
)./w/
may be added between two vowels, as in "so exciting" (/səʊwɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
).There are many resources available to help you learn or improve linking or connected speech. Since there are pronunciation differences between American English and British English (and other varieties of English), you should use resources that cover the variety of English you want to learn.
American English:
British English:
Australian English:
Other relevant links: