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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Reduction and Assimilation
Hi there! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question about reduced syllables2 and assimilation.
Question:
Hello,
I would like you to explain to me in detail, if that is possible...
In spoken English, why do native speakers change or omit these letters, for example:
I want to go. (I wanna go)
Handbag (hambag)
A and B (A n B)
What's the rule behind this?
Thanks,
Adam
Answer:
Thanks, Adam, for your question.
You have found that people do not always say words the same way all the time. They sometimes change sounds to make them easier to say.
One example is syllable1 dropping, which we discussed in an earlier Ask a Teacher. Assimilation and reduction are other ways sounds can change when people are speaking quickly.
Two different sounds can start to sound the same when they are said quickly. This is called "assimilation."
This is what is happening in the word "handbag."
The /n/ sound is a nasal sound, which is made by air moving through our nose. The sound/b/ is produced by pressing the lips together. So, the /n/ sound is affected3 by the /b/ sound in "bag." The sound becomes /m/, a combination of a nasal sound and the labial4 sound.
The /d/ sound is then dropped.
/Handbag/
/Hambag/
Sometimes it is not just one sound within a word that is reduced, but a whole word, like in the examples of "wanna" or "A n' B."
Function words, like "to" and "and" are often reduced in everyday speech. This helps us to pay more attention to the more important words that carry meaning.
Most unstressed syllables and function words become shorter, softer and less clear. The vowel5 sound in "to," /oo/, gets reduced to another vowel sound "schwa," /ə/.
"Want to" becomes "wanta," /ə/. The two /t/ sounds drop off in fast speech. So, "want ta" becomes "wanna."
In "A and B," the "and" gets reduced to /ən/. So, phrases like "A and B" or "cream and sugar" become "A ‘n B" and "cream ‘n sugar."
Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you, Adam.
Do you have a question about American English? Send us an email at [email protected].
And that's Ask a Teacher.
Words in This Story
syllable – n. a unit of spoken language that consists of one or more vowel sounds alone or with one or more consonant6 sounds preceding or following
assimilation – n. a sound changes in which some sounds (typically consonants7 or vowels) change to become more similar to other nearby sounds
labial –adj. involving one or both lips
phrase – n. a word or group of words forming a syntactic constituent8 with a single grammatical function
cream – n. a thick white liquid taken from milk used in cooking, baking and coffee
1 syllable | |
n.音节;vt.分音节 | |
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2 syllables | |
n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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3 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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4 labial | |
adj.唇的;唇音的;n.唇音,风琴管 | |
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5 vowel | |
n.元音;元音字母 | |
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6 consonant | |
n.辅音;adj.[音]符合的 | |
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7 consonants | |
n.辅音,子音( consonant的名词复数 );辅音字母 | |
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8 constituent | |
n.选民;成分,组分;adj.组成的,构成的 | |
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