About this lesson
In natural English, words that belong together are joined into one flow. The teachers in this mix say not to stop your voice between the words of a short phrase, because choppy speech is harder to follow. Linking depends on sounds, not letters, so a silent letter or the spelling can mislead you. Listen for the sound at the end of one word and the sound at the start of the next.
There are a few kinds of link. A final consonant joins the vowel at the start of the next word. When two words share the same consonant sound, you say it once and hold it slightly. Between two vowel sounds, a small w or y sound slips in. One useful trick is to imagine the consonant at the start of the next word. Several teachers say to link inside a thought group, not across the whole sentence.
Be careful with a few claims. Linking is about smoothness, not speed, so slow down if it is hard. It is typical, not guaranteed, because careful or slow speech often does not link. The rules for the small w and y sounds are not precise, so try both and keep the one that feels easier. And some features, such as the linking r, belong to certain accents only.
Examples from the clips
- Oxford Online English goes through the kinds of link: two consonants, similar consonants, consonant to vowel and vowel to vowel, with a trick for the consonant that moves to the next word.
- Accent's Way English with Hadar shows why stopping your voice between words makes you less clear, not more.
- AccurateEnglish says linking is smoothness, not speed, and shows the final consonant moving onto the next vowel.
- mmmEnglish asks you to listen for sounds, not letters, and points out that a silent final letter can hide a consonant sound.
Questions this lesson answers
What is linking in English?
It is joining the words in a phrase so they sound like one flow, with no stop between them. Usually the end of one word connects to the start of the next.
Does linking mean I should speak faster?
No. Teachers here say linking is about smoothness first. Some say it helps natural speed, but for learners the aim is a smooth join, not a fast one.
How do I link a consonant to a vowel?
Imagine the final consonant at the start of the next word, and say the two words as one smooth unit. Listen for the sound, not the letter.
What are the small w and y sounds between vowels?
When one word ends in a vowel sound and the next begins with one, a quick w or y often joins them. Teachers say to try both and use the one that feels easier.
Do I always have to link my words?
No. Linking is typical in natural speech, but careful or slow speech often has gaps. Some links, such as the linking r, depend on the accent.