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English Conversation: Are YOU Using Contractions and Reductions Correctly?

Rachel's English・24 minutes read

Americans use conversational English, with contractions and reductions, to sound more natural. Pronouncing words slowly is not common, and utilizing contractions and reductions is crucial for natural sounding speech.

Insights

  • Contractions and reductions, such as "I'm" and "wanna," are crucial for sounding natural in American English, as seen in examples like "Hi Rach, I'm going to Starbucks."
  • Pronunciation in American English involves using flap T sounds and adding schwa sounds, as demonstrated with contractions like "shouldn't" and connecting words like "get it" for smoother speech flow.

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Recent questions

  • How do Americans speak English in formal settings?

    Americans use conversational English with reductions and idioms even in formal settings, making their speech sound more natural and relaxed.

  • What are some examples of contractions and reductions in American English?

    Examples include contractions like "I'm" and reductions like "wanna," which are commonly used to make English sound more natural and fluent.

  • Why is it important to use contractions and reductions in American English?

    Contractions and reductions help in sounding more natural and fluent in American English, enhancing the overall flow and rhythm of speech.

  • How can one make English sound more natural in American English?

    Pronouncing contractions, using reductions, and incorporating stop T sounds can make English sound more natural and conversational in an American context.

  • What techniques can be used to improve the flow of speech in American English?

    Connecting words with flap T sounds, using stop T sounds, and incorporating reductions can enhance the flow of speech and make pronunciation more natural in American English.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Mastering American English: Contractions, Reductions, and Sounds

  • Americans use conversational English even in formal settings, with reductions and idioms.
  • A free cheat sheet for American English sounds is available in the video description.
  • Pronouncing everything slowly and clearly is not natural in American English.
  • Contractions like "I'm" and reductions like "wanna" make English sound more natural.
  • Specific examples include "Hi Rach, I'm going to Starbucks" and "Do you wanna come along?"
  • "Thank you" becomes "thanks" and "I've got too much I wanna get done here."
  • "I'll be back soon" and "I'd love a coffee though" showcase contractions.
  • "That'll be fine" and "See you in a bit" demonstrate reductions and stop T sounds.
  • The importance of contractions, reductions, and T pronunciations in sounding natural is highlighted.
  • The second conversation emphasizes contractions like "haven't" and "didn't," as well as reductions and stop T sounds.

15:08

Store Closed Sunday; Bananas and Milk Needed

  • "We are out of bananas and milk."
  • "The contraction 'we're' is used for 'we are'."
  • "The pronunciation of 'out of' involves a flap T between vowels."
  • "The word 'and' is reduced to the schwa sound 'nn'."
  • "The decision to run to the store is made."
  • "The contraction 'I'll' is used for 'I will'."
  • "The store may not be open."
  • "The reason for the store being closed is that it's Sunday."
  • "The likelihood of the store being open today is discussed."
  • "The store was closed last Sunday."

31:14

Smooth Speech: Flap T Enhances Pronunciation Naturalness

  • Contracting words like "should not" to "shouldn't" and "that would" to "that'd" involves using a flap t and adding a schwa sound, making speech smoother and more natural. For instance, "better" is pronounced with flap ts between vowels.
  • When speaking, it's important to connect words like "get it" with a flap t at the end of "get" for smoothness. Additionally, the final t in "it" should be a stop t. This technique enhances the flow of speech and makes pronunciation more natural.
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