Be fluent in English, like native by learning how to speak with fluid English
Speaking flowing, fluid English is a problem for many people whose original language is a syllable timed language.
What do I mean by this? They find it difficult to link words in sentences so they flow effortlessly and sound fluid.
English is a stressed timed language. Therefore to flow in English instead of sounding stiff and unconnected, it is important to work on the following elements:
Linking, syllable stress within words, and stress patterns within sentences.
Not only are these important for flowing speech, they are also important to be understood better when you speak English.
Linking
This is linking of words rather than saying each word totally separately.
For example ‘put it’ is said ‘pu tit’.
Unlike a lot of other stress and rhythm elements in English, there is actually a rule regarding this making it easier to know how to incorporate it into everyday speech.
The rule is: If a word ends in a consonant, and the following word begins with a vowel, then you ‘run’ them or link them together. This is covered in more detail in our full accent programs in the chapter called “ Extra tips for clear speech and pronunciation.”
Start to pay attention to this element when you are listening to a native English speaker and note where they make the elisions. Maybe even write the sentence down and mark where the linking was made. Then practise it every day for a few days till it becomes automatic and you are speaking with fluid English. You can repeat this technique over and over with different word linking combinations you hear.
In my next blogs I will cover the elements of stress in words of more than one syllable and stress patterns within sentences.
Best wishes,
Esther
