If you are an advanced student of American English pronunciation you have probably learned about linking (or liaisons). Linking refers to the connections between words. Ann Cook, author of American Accent Training
Spoken English has linking between words and also within words.
Word internal linking occurs when there are 2 vowel sounds inside a word. When this happens native English speakers will insert a /y/ or /w/ glide to connect the sounds.
The /y/ insertion is very common. This is sometimes referred to as the invisible /y/. Here are a few examples:
reunion sounds like reyunion
client sounds like cliyent
diet sounds like diyet
You will also hear a /w/ insertion is some words:
cooperate sounds like cowoperate
graduate sounds like graduwate
coersion sounds like cowersion
Click on the LINKING category to your right to learn more about the importance of linking in American English!
Tags: Accent Reduction for Chinese Speakers, Accent Reduction Techniques, American English Pronunciation, american english vowels, linking, vietnamese speakers
