N. V. Tatsenko introduction to theoretical phonetics of english

Give the examples of elision.

What is linking?

Characterise special cases of junctures.

Describe the cases of vowel modifications.

What are the characteristic features of formal speech?

What are the characteristic features of informal speech?

Characterise stylistic modifications of sounds.

PRACTICAL TASK
The following sentences are given in spelling and in a "slow, careful" phonemic transcription. Rewrite the phonemic transcription as a "broad phonetic" one so as to show likely assimilations, elisions and linking.

1. 
   One cause of asthma is supposed to be allergies
   

[wvn ko:z av ss9ma iz sapaozd to bi slad3iz'].

2. 
   What the urban population could use is better trains
   

[wot Qi 3:ban popjaleijn kod ju:z iz beta treinz].

3. 
   She acts particularly well in the first scene
   

[fi skts patikjalali wel in Qa f3:st si:n].
UNIT 7. SYLLABIC STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH
WORDS

1. 
   The Structure of the English Syllable
   

Speech is a continuum. However, it can be broken into minimal pronounceable units into which sounds show a tendency to cluster or group themselves. These smallest phonetic groups are generally given the name of syllables. The syllable is a very important unit. Most people seem to believe that, even if they cannot define what a syllable is, they can count how many syllables there are in a given word or sentence. If they are asked to do this they often tap their finger as they count, which illustrates the syllable’s importance in the rhythm of speech. As a matter of fact, if one tries the experiment of asking English speakers to count the syllables in, say, a recorded sentence, there is often a considerable amount of disagreement.
The syllable is one or more speech sounds forming a single uninterrupted unit of utterance which may be a commonly recognized subdivision of a word or the whole of a word. Being the smallest pronounceable units, the syllables form language units of greater magnitude that is morphemes, words and phrases. Each of these units is characterized by a certain syllabic structure.
Phonetically, (i. e. in relation to the way we produce them and the way they sound), syllables are usually described as consisting of a centre which has little or no obstruction to airflow and which sounds comparatively loud; before and after this centre (i.e. at the beginning and end of the syllable), there will be greater obstruction to airflow and/or less loud sound.