Gliding Vowels in Connected Speech

Accent Coach Bianca

Gliding is more common than Assimilation in Connected Speech, but a bit more difficult! Gliding is also more common than Assimilation, so you'll use this skill more often!

We define and review the differences between Connected Speech and Gliding, specifically.

I underline the importance of knowing how vowels are pronounced rather than relying on the way a word is written.

Also, I want you to think of vowels and consonants along a continuum rather than black and white categories. We have to pay attention to whether we're making one pure vowel sound (monopthong) or transitioning between two (diphthong) vowel sounds (or even more). Notice how we use the semi-vowels /y/ and /w/ to ease the transitions.

I go through 7 diphthongs, to show that you are probably already gliding vowels within words, but probably not recognizing it as a tool of Connected Speech to bridge the gap BETWEEN words. Then, I give you 3 examples of Gliding as Connected Speech.

Finally, we analyze the breakfast sentence from the last episode and see two examples of Gliding.

I don't have to tell you how difficult it is to find good accent training materials. I don't find what I'm looking for, so I make it!

In fact, I have put together a training resource using the top 500 most common words in English for you to practice the 5 most common diphthongs, plus a BONUS of 3 'R-colored diphthongs'.

You can find “Master 5+ Diphthongs for Accuracy & Connected Speech” at Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/accentbianca/e/118507

Linking is a bit easier, and we will review that type of Connected Speech in the next episode!