The Sound and Style of American English

Course #3

LESSON 4 : OTHER COLLOQUIAL SLOPPINESS

Dr.David Alan Stern

AUDIO

Follow the instructions on the tape to produce the "informal" pronunciations Americans use every day for the following short words and phrases.

SECTION I : THE ARTICLES {Counter #...........}

L4/S1-A

Before a consonant the word "THE" is usually pronounced as the voiced "THE" sound followed immediately by the beginning of the next word. There will be almost no vowel sound in the word "THE."

THE TREE,THE HOUSE, THE CAMEL, THE DOG, THE GARAGE,
THE HILL, THE JUNGLE, THE LAMP

Now practice a few more of these.

the wall, the picture, the screen, the table, the ball, the street, the gold, the yellow chair, the dark sky, the cover

L4/S1-B

Before a vowel, the word "THE" is pronounced with the "Hard E" vowel gliding into the beginning of the next word. Follow the instructions on the tape.

THE APPLE, THE OTHER, THE OLD HOUSE, THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE,
THE AWFUL SAUCE, THE ILLNESS, THE OTHER ONE

Now here are a few more to practice.

the old man, the orange, the oboe, the island, the island, the owl, the ordinary people, the actual fact, the all-important dollar

L4/S1-C

Before a consonant, the word "A" is pronounced as the soft vowel "UH." Listen to the samples on the tape.

A BOOK, A DESK, A HOUSE, A PICTURE, A FENCE, A GARAGE

Now try it on these other phrases.

a wall, a picture, a screen, a table, a ball, a street, a gold, a yellow chair, a dark sky, a cover

L4/S1-D

Before a vowel, the word "A" changes to the word "AN" with the "N" gliding directly into the vowel that begins the next word.

AN APPLE, AN OLD MANSION, AN ENGLISH MANOR,
AN AWFUL THING, AN ORDINARY DAY

Now practice on these additional phrases.

an old man, an orange, an oboe, an island, an owl, an ordinary person, an actual fact, an important idea

SECTION II : OTHER SHORT WORDS {Counter # ........}

L4/S2-A

The word "TO" is usually pronounced as a soft "T" with almost no vowel sound.

TO WORK, TO THE STORE, TO THE MOVIES, TO THE OFFICE, TO MY MOTHER'S HOUSE

And a few more to try:

- I have to be there soon.
- He came to see his sister.
- I have to go to the store this evening.

But when the word "TO" comes immediately after a word that ends in a vowel sound, it Americanizes into a soft "D."

GO TO WORK, GO TO THE STORE, GO TO THE MOVIES,
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE OFFICE.

DO YOU WANT TO WORK?
DO YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME FUN?
DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE STORE?

TO YOU, TO HIM, TO HER

I CAN'T GIVE IT TO YOU.
I ALREADY GAVE IT TO HIM.
I WALKED OVER TO HER.

I CAN'T GIVE IT TO YOU.
I TALKED TO HIM YESTERDAY.
I HAVE TO BRING IT TO HER HOUSE.

And here are a few more to practice:

so to speak, away to school, play to win, agree to speak

L4/S2-B

"FOR" and "FROM" are often pronounced "FER" "FRM" unless they are at the end of a phrase.

WHAT'S THAT FOR? I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT'S FOR.

IT'S FOR YOU. IT'S FOR HIM' IT'S FOR THE CHURCH PICNIC.

IT'S FOR SCHOOL. IT'S SOMETHING I NEED FOR MY JOB.
FROM MARY, FROM THE STORE, FROM OVERSEAS, FROM DAD'S OFFICE

Now try a few more which aren't recorded on the tape.

- I'll need it for three days.
- It's for you from all of us.
- The letter from the president thanked him for doing good work.
- Come down from there and go shopping for supper.
- For heaven's sake, will you please get away from him.

L4/S2-C

Most of the time in colloquial American English, the word "AT" hardly gets pronounced at all. The vowel is little more than a grunt, and the "T" is not really exploded. Listen to the specific examples on the tape.

AT SCHOOL, AT HOME, AT THE PICNIC, AT THE MOVIES, AT NIGHT, AT CAMP

- It's different at school these days.
- Back at the ranch, the family members were all at the table.
- That's a problem at all levels of government.
- Be here at ten o'clock sharp!
- He always seems to be at odds with the whole world.

I BROUGHT IT FROM MARY.
I GOT IT FROM THE STORE.
HE'S HOME FROM OVERSEAS.
I GOT BACK FROM DAD'S OFFICE.

L4/S2-D

Unless there's a special reason to stress them, the words "AND" and "OR" usually degenerate into "N" and "ER.." Again, listen to the tape for the specific demonstrations.

THIS and THAT, MARY and PAUL, SPANISH and FRENCH
SPANISH AND FRENCH, FRENCH OR SPANISH

DON'T STUDY FRENCH AND SPANISH, STUDY FRENCH OR SPANISH.
GO TO SCHOOL OR TO THE BEACH.

- Sam and I went to the baseball game.
- There are good and bad reasons for everything.
- Bill or Fred will get it for Barbara and me.
- You can have ham and eggs with pancakes or toast.
- Tell Mother or Father that you and Frank will be late.

L4/S2-F The word "ARE" often degenerates into a simple "ER" sound, especially when the word is part of a questions.

- WHERE are YOU GOING?
- WHO are THEY?
- WHAT are THEY DOING?
- WHERE are WE HAVING THE PARTY?


- WHO ARE THEY?

Now try these additional drills which aren't recorded on the tape.

- What are the chances that there are enough chairs here?
- When are we going to see you again?
- Where are the family members going to meet?

L4/S2-F

"YOUR" and "YOU'RE" are usually pronounced "YER" in everyday, colloquial speech.

YOUR BOOK, YOUR DENTIST'S NUMBER, WHO ARE YOUR TEACHER THIS YEAR?
YOU'RE READY TO GO, YOU'RE GOING TO THE PARTY, AREN'T YOU?

- Tell me when you're ready for your dinner.
- You're always saying that your kids are causing trouble.
- Your waiter will be here when you're ready to order.
- Your every dream comes true when you wish upon your star.