Pronunciation Practice
發音練習
Hello. I'm Sammy, and I like to practice American English. This is part one of the Connected Speech series. Today, we'll discuss elision.
哈囉。我是 Sammy，我喜歡練習美式英文。這是 Connected Speech 系列的第一部。今天，我們要討論音節省略。
What is elision? It means omitting one or more sounds in a word or phrase to make it easier to pronounce. This is used in casual/informal speech. Elision can help your American English sound smoother and more natural. American English has a few patterns of elision in casual speech. But today, we will practice /t/ and /d/ elision.
什麼是音節省略？這代表在單字或詞組中省略一個或多個音使之容易發音。這被用在日常或口語對話中。音節省略可以幫助讓你的美式英文聽起來更流暢自然。美式英文在日常對話中有幾個音節省略的模式。不過今天，我們會練習 /t/ 和 /d/ 兩個音的音節省略。
What do you notice about the pronunciation of the underlined words in this sentence?
此句中畫底線單字的發音，你發現到什麼？
Formal speech: "The handsome movie star acts in a film about friendship between a father and son."
正式說話方式：「那位帥氣的電影明星在一部關於父子情誼的電影中演出。」
Now, in casual speech: "The handsome movie star acts in a film about friendship between a father and son."
現在，日常對話：「那位帥氣的電影明星在一部關於父子情誼的電影中演出。」
Whenever /t/ or /d/ comes between two consonants at the end of a syllable, it gets elided, which means that it doesn't get pronounced. For example, instead of "scripts," we say, "scripts." And instead of "friendship," we say, "friendship."
每當 /t/ 或 /d/ 這兩個音出現在一個音節最後的兩個子音中間時，它就會被省略，也就代表它不被發音。舉例來說，我們不會說 scripts(稿)，我們會說：「scripts」。然後我們不會說 friendship(友誼)，我們會說：「friendship」。
Let's practice pronouncing the following words using /t/ and /d/ elision: scripts, acts, facts, dialects, attempts, postcard, handsome, friendship, highlands.
讓我們用 /t/ 和 /d/ 兩個音的音節省略來練習唸出下列單字：scripts(稿)、acts(行為)、facts(事實)、dialects(方言)、attempts(嘗試)、postcard(明信片)、handsome(帥氣的)、friendship(友誼)、highlands(高地)。
/t/ and /d/ elision can even happen between two words. For example, you pronounce "last chance" instead of "last chance," bbecause the "t" does not get pronounced. Other example are father and son, handbag, most popular, left turn, first three, next day.
/t/ 和 /d/ 兩個音的音節省略甚至會出現在兩個字之間。例如，你會念 last chance(最後機會)而不是 last chance，因為 t 不會被發音。其它例子為 father and son(父與子)、handbag(手提袋)、most popular(最熱門的)、left turn(左轉)、first three(前三的)、next day(隔天)。
Let's practice! Read the following sentences and use /t/ and /d/ elision for the underlined sounds.
一起練習吧!讀出下列句子，並用 /t/ 和 /d/ 兩個音的音節省略唸出畫底線的音。
I started a friendship with a handsome artist. He paints landscapes. For the past three years, he's worked hard and become successful. Now, his most famous painting is printed on postcards.
我和一位帥氣的藝術家當起朋友。他畫風景。過去三年來，他努力工作並出人頭地。現在，他最有名的畫被印在明信片上。
I started a friendship with a handsome artist. He paints landscapes. For the past three years, he's worked hard and become successful. Now, his most famous painting is printed on postcards!
我和一位帥氣的藝術家當起朋友。他畫風景。過去三年來，他努力工作並出人頭地。現在，他最有名的畫被印在明信片上!
Next time, we'll have part two of the Connected Speech series about informal contractions.
下一次，我們會有關於非正式縮讀字的 Connected Speech 系列第二部。
