Speech Linking: Definition, Types, and Examples
Linking is a fundamental process in connected speech, alongside assimilation and elision. It concerns the connection of sound segments within an utterance or word. Specifically, it refers to a situation where a sound segment or phoneme acts as a bridge between two syllables, facilitating a smoother transition and aiding rapid speech production. Because of this linking, the words in a sentence do not always sound the same as when we say them individually. Linking is very important in English.
That is, a situation whereby a sound segment or phoneme serves as a link between two syllables making the glide from one syllable to the other smoother and aiding rapid speech production.
When we say a sentence in English, we join or “link” words to each other.
The important thing in linking is the sound, not the letter.
Instances of Linking
Linking occurs in several instances:
1. Vowel-to-Vowel Linking
When a word ends with a vowel sound and the next word begins with a vowel sound, the /w/ and /j/ sounds are inserted between them, forming a link that allows for a smooth transition. Depending on the vowel sound that ends the first word, the linker could be either /w/ or /j/. For example, if vowel sounds /I/, /ei/, /ɔɪ/, and /ai/ end a word, the linker would be /j/, but when vowel sounds like /au/, /u/, and /əʊ/ end a word, the linker would be/w/.
For example:
- Can't see anything = will be articulated as /kɑːnt siː j ˈɛnɪθɪŋ /
- Why don't you say it = will be articulated as /waɪ dəʊnt juː seɪ j ɪt/
- It is due on the first = will be articulated as /ɪt ɪz djuː w ɒn ðə fɜːst/
- Now is your chance = will be articulated as /naʊ w ɪz jɔː ʧɑːns/
2. Consonant-to-Vowel Linking
When a word ends with a consonant and the following word begins with a vowel, the consonant is linked to the second word as though it belongs to both words. For example;
Liaison means the linking of sounds or words.
3. Linking /r/ in Non-Rhotic Accents
The most common liaison phenomena involve /r/ appearing in non-rhotic speech in post-vocalic contexts. For speakers of non-rhotic accents /r/ is not pronounced after vowels. However, in these accents, when words that are spelled ending with an
A rhotic speaker will pronounce words like far as /fɑːr/, whereas a non-rhotic speaker does not pronounce /r/ at all unless followed by a vowel. For rhotic speakers this is just because far has an /r/ in it, but for non-rhotic speakers it appears because the first word ends with a vowel and the second word begins with a vowel - the /r/ links the two words together. In such cases, [r] forms a syllable with the following vowel in connected speech and therefore occurs in a syllable onset - such syllabification across word boundaries is a general feature of connected speech in English.
4. Intrusive /r/
Intrusive /r/ also involves the pronunciation of an /r/ sound, but this time there is no justification from the spelling as the word’s spelling does not end in
Here's a table summarizing the different types of linking discussed:
| Type of Linking | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Vowel-to-Vowel | Insertion of /w/ or /j/ between vowel sounds | "See it" pronounced as /siː j ɪt/ |
| Consonant-to-Vowel | Linking a consonant at the end of a word to a vowel at the beginning of the next word | (Example needed) |
| Linking /r/ | Pronouncing the /r/ at the end of a word before a vowel in non-rhotic accents | "Far away" pronounced with a distinct /r/ sound |
| Intrusive /r/ | Insertion of /r/ sound even when not present in spelling, in non-rhotic accents | (Example needed) |