Linking vowels to consonants

Definition

Linking consonants to vowels is the process of connecting two sounds together in order to create a smooth, flowing speech. This can be done in a number of ways, depending on the sounds involved. If you struggle to pronounce particular sounds at the ends of words, such as /n/, //, or /l/, consonant linking can be useful since it shifts the challenging sound to the beginning of a word.

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Types

There are two main types of consonants that can be linked to vowels: voiced and voiceless. 

• The voiced consonants are those that use the vocal cords to produce sound, such as /b/ and /g/. 
• The voiceless consonants are those that don't use the vocal cords, such as /p/ and /k/.

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Linking is usually done by adding an extra vowel sound between the two consonants. For example, the word "cat" can be linked as /kæt/. This is done by adding the vowel sound /æ/ between the /k/ and the /t/.

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Examples

Linking can also be done by changing the way a consonant is pronounced. For example, the word "dog" can be linked as /dɒg/. This is done by pronouncing the /d/ as a /dʒ/ sound.

Linking is a important part of creating smooth, flowing speech. It can be done in a number of ways, depending on the sounds involved. By adding an extra vowel sound or changing the way a consonant is pronounced, we can create words that are easy to pronounce and sound natural.

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Conclusion

Because it is usually done in spoken English, connecting consonants to words that start with vowels is particularly crucial. If you don't link into words that start with vowel sounds, you won't only sound choppy and robotic, but your listeners will expect to hear it and may become a little perplexed if they don't.

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