In order to sound more natural when speaking English, it can be helpful to learn about linking and reducing. Americans reduce and link words, leaving off sounds and adding them to the next word to create a more flowing style. For example, rather than saying “I’m on a call” with clear breaks between words, we tend to say something that sounds more like “Imahna call.”
Look at the phrases below. Listen to the recording, and try pronouncing them with the American style linking and reducing.
Look at the phrases below. Listen to the recording, and try pronouncing them with the American style linking and reducing.
| In: Link the “n” to the next word, like “ina, inthe.” in a meeting in the room in a place |
| Link the word before “in,” He’s in there sounds like he zin there I’m in sounds like I min Head in sounds like heh din |
| On: Link the “n” to the next word, like “ona, onthe.” on a trip on the web on a tight timeline |
| Link the word before “on,” I’m on it sounds like I mah nit Get on that sounds like ge don that Who’s on now? sounds like who zah now? |
| And: Reduce “and” to sound more like “en.” she and I sounds like she ennai this and that sounds like this en that in and out sounds like ineh nout |
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