Inserting Sounds in English
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When we connect words in sentences, the endings of the words in the sentence sometimes change to create a smooth, natural flow. Here is an example of an insertion or the addition of a letter to create a fluid sound in English.
Certain conditions in a sentence must exist for an insertion to be present. Think of two words that are side-by-side. The first word ends in a vowel like the word “YOU” The second word begins with a vowel like “ARE.” Saying two vowels like this in running speech is difficult so we naturally add a /w/ between the two words. If this were spelled out, it would look like: “You(w)are” This is an example of a ‘w’ insertion.
Sometimes we insert a /y/ in between two words. Take the following sentence:
I am going to the office.
“I am” has the right vowel conditions, so a /y/ is inserted between the two words:
Iyam
There are actually two places that the /y/ is inserted in this sentence. I will let you find the second one on your own.
Did you know that there are rules for determining when to place a /y/ and when to place a /w/? We’ll cover that detail another time. Or you can hear about it in my webinar series called Be Rhythmic and Fluid: Get Connected. This high level of detail in speech may seem small and insignificant, but for nonnative speakers, it benefits rhythm and the natural sound of English.