8.3. English Consonants in Connected Speech

The regressive type of assimilation is more common in languages. The speech organs assume beforehand some position which is necessary for the articulation of the next sound in the sequence. This is the case in Russian. We pronounce: [фск'ип'эл] вскипел, but [взбалтат'] взболтать.

Such assimilation always occurs except before vowels and the sonorants [л], [р], [м], [н]; thus, the following sequences are pronounced without assimilation: [хл'эп лучше булк'и] хлеб лучше булки, [хл'эп разный] хлеб разный, [хл'эп мой] хлеб мой, [хл'эп нужен].

In English, the functioning of the law of regressive voice to breath or breath to voice assimilation may be observed in a few cases of historical assimilations only, such as: newspaper ['nju:speip], raspberry ['ra:zbr], gooseberry [`guzbr] and a few others.

In present-day English sequences consisting of a voiced and a voiceless consonant are possible inside a word or at the juncture of two words, for example: blackboard ['blkb:d], absurd [b'sɜ:d], medicine ['medsn], like that [lak 't].

Strictly speaking this is a case of partial assimilation. A voiced consonant is devoiced at the end before a voiceless consonant (partial regressive assimilation); while a voiced consonant preceded by a voiceless consonant is partially devoiced at the beginning (partial progressive assimilation.)

Such sequences are very difficult for Russian learners, because according to Russian articulation habits they require complete regressive breath-to-voice and voice-to-breath assimilation.

There are also cases of complete progressive voicing and devoicing in English. For example, the pronunciation of the suffix –ed of regular verbs is based on progressive voicing and devoicing. Thus we pronounce: dropped [drpt], remained [r'mend], extended [ks'tendd]. The pronunciation of the plural suffix -(e)s of nouns and of the third person singular Present Indefinite of verbs also conforms to this rule. Complete progressive voicing and devoicing usually occur in rapid informal colloquial style in the final consonants of the verbs to be and to have and in some other words. For example: it is this [t z 's] > [ts 's]; he has come [h hz 'km] > [hz 'km]; should have thought so [ud hv ':t su] > [tf ':t su].

No explosion. In a sequence of two or three stops, none but the last stop has an explosion. For example, in the sequence act two [''кt:u:] [k] has no explosion and the first [t] has no explosion either, while the second [t] has no closure. Thus, practically a long [t] is pronounced which gives the impression of a "double" [t] sound.

Nasal explosion. In sequences where a plosive is followed by a homorganic nasal stop, the former has no explosion of its own; the nasal has only the third phase, so that the acoustic effect is that the plosive has a nasal explosion. E. g. the combinations [tn], [bm], in curtain, submerged.

This assimilation is characteristic of Russian too; for example, the sequences [тн], [дн], [бм] in such words as: отнять, одним, обмыть.

Lateral explosion. It is observed in a sequence where a stop is followed by [1]; the tip of the tongue does not leave its position, and the closure produced for the stop is not released till after [1], which thus has no on-glide. We observe this phenomenon in words like subtle, little, etc.

This assimilation occurs in Russian too, in words like отлично, отлогий.

Labialization. Labialization of consonants before a labial consonant or a rounded vowel is a very frequent case of regressive assimilation. All consonants are subject to this adaptation. The activity of the lips begins during the on-glide of the preceding sound in the sequence, giving it a labialized quality. In twenty, swallow, doom, quality, law the initial sounds [t], [s], [d], [k], [1] are labialized.

This assimilation is common in Russian too (лук, помощь, стул).

Change of the place of articulation. All apical consonants that are articulated with the tip of the tongue against the teeth-ridge are subject to regressive assimilation before interdental [] and [], and change the place of articulation, adapting themselves to [] and []. As a result, we have dental [t], [d], [n], [1], [s] in sequences such as: pass the box, pull the cord, the tenth.

Other examples of regressive change of the place of articulation are the combinations [tr], [dr], in which the articulation of the [t] and [d]-phonemes is adapted to the articulation of [r] for which the tip of the tongue is raised to the lower part of the hard palate. The consonants t, d become post alveolar.

Another example of regressive adaptation may be observed in compound words composed of two words, one ending in [s] and the other beginning with []. The result is complete assimilation, the sequence [s - ] being blended together in long [:]. E. g. horse + shoe ['ho:s]-[u:] = ['ho::u:].

This assimilation is common in rapid speech at the juncture of words in the sequences [s — ] and [z —]. E. g. Of course she does is pronounced [v'k::∙'dz]. Does she? is pronounced ['d∙].

Some more examples:

• t, d > dental before [ð, θ]: eighth, at the, said that

• t, d > post-alveolar before [r]: tree, true, dream, the third room

• s, z > post-alveolar before [∫]: this shop, does she

• t, d > affricates before [j]: graduate, could you

• m > labio-dental before [f]: symphony

• n > dental before [θ]: seventh

• n > velar before [k]: thank

These sequences occur in Russian too: без шуток [б'ешшуток], без жены [б'ежжены], бесшабашный [б'ешшабашный].

However, a similar combination of consonants [s+t] is not assimilated in English and occurs in a number of words, for instance: question ['kwestn], texture ['tekst], mixture ['mikst].

Palatalization. It is the adaptation on dental or velar consonants to the high front vowels [i: - i] or the sonant [j] (e.g. key). But this feature is more characteristic for Russian where palatalization is a phonemically relevant distinctive feature (вол – вёл, ров – рёв, удар – ударь).

Lip-position. It may be affected by the accommodation, the interchange of consonant + vowel type. Labialization of consonants is traced under the influence of the neighbouring back vowels (e.g. pool, moon, rude, soon, who, cool).

It is possible to speak about the spread lip position of consonants followed or preceded by front vowels [i: - i] (e.g. tea – beat, meet – team, keep – leak, sit – miss).

Linking r. In BrE (RP), and other non-rhotic accents, a word said in isolation never ends in [r]. Nevertheless, in connected speech an [r] may be pronounced in some cases if the next word begins with a vowel sound. This typically happens with a word (syllable) that ends in one of the vowels, when the following word (syllable) begins with a vowel sound.

far [fa:], [fa:r]. In isolation, or before a consonant sound, this word is, in RP, pronounced [fa:]. But in a phrase such us far away, far out it is usually pronounced [fa:r]. In GenAm it is always [fa:r], whatever the environment it occurs in.

near [niə]. In isolation, the RP form is [niə]. But in a phrase such as near enough it is usually pronounced [niər].

Usually, as in the cases just mentioned, the spelling includes r. The inserted r-sound is then known as linking r. It corresponds to a historical [r], now lost before a consonant or pause.