Linking Words in English Pronunciation

This video tutorial by Gina from Oxford Online English focuses on the concept of linking in English pronunciation. It explains how native speakers link words to speak fluently and naturally. The lesson covers linking two consonants, similar consonants, consonants to vowels, and two vowel sounds. Examples and practice sentences are provided to help learners understand and apply these linking techniques. The tutorial emphasizes that linking is based on sounds, not spelling, and offers tips for practicing and improving fluency.

Why is it important to link words when speaking English?

• To sound more formal

• To slow down speech

• To speak more fluently and naturally

• To confuse listeners

What happens when you link two consonants in 'red dress'?

• You skip the second /d/ sound

• You pronounce both /d/ sounds separately

• The two words share the /d/ sound

• You skip the first /d/ sound

Which of the following pairs of words is an example of linking two consonants?

• Red dress

• Nice weather

• Blue sky

• Big apple

What is the exception to the rule of linking two consonant sounds?

• When the sounds are /k/ or /g/

• When the sounds are /p/ or /b/

• When the sounds are /s/ or /z/

• When the sounds are /tʃ/ or /dʒ/

How do you link the words 'cheese sandwich'?

• By linking the /z/ and /s/ sounds together

• By skipping the /z/ sound

• By pronouncing both /z/ and /s/ separately

• By skipping the /s/ sound

Which of the following pairs of words is an example of linking similar consonant sounds?

• Cheese sandwich

• Big apple

• Blue sky

• Nice weather

How do you link the words 'when Anna'?

• By pronouncing the vowel first

• By skipping the /n/ sound

• By pronouncing both /n/ sounds separately

• By linking the /n/ sound to the vowel

Which of the following sentences contains a consonant-vowel link?

• That’s a nice sofa

• He’s quite tall

• I ate an apple

• She bought a red dress

How do you link the words 'two apples'?

• By adding a /w/ sound between the vowels

• By adding a /j/ sound between the vowels

• By pronouncing both vowels separately

• By skipping the first vowel

What is the best way to determine which consonant sound to add when linking two vowels?

• Skip the linking sound

• Always use /w/

• Always use /j/

• Try different sounds and choose the easiest one