Learn Connected Speech easily in 9 minutes with Professor Snape

I was saying, like, the Minister of Magic, he smells like fish.

I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science or exact art

that is British pronunciation.

However, for those select few

who possess the predisposition,

I can teach you how to bewitch Americans with your cute British accent.

Master the schwa and even put a glottal stop in your Ts

So do pay attention or you may risk sounding like a muggle.

Or worse,

an American.

Bellatrix will demonstrate the first spell of connected speech.

“ASSIMILARE!”

Assimilation is an essential spell for perfect pronunciation.

It involves changing one sound to sound more similar to the next sound,

We smooth those sounds so they're more similar to each other.

And that makes it sound better.

For example, the words

“COULD + YOU” are separated with a D and a Y sound,

but with connected speech, we combine those into a /dz/ sound.

Say this with me class. That includes you.

Could you.

Could you.

Could you

Could you.

Fine.

Did I do it right?

I'm scared.

Could you pass me the potion?

How miss Melon would you pronounce this with

perfect British pronunciation?

Could you pass me the potion?

Yes. Good.

Now you try.

Could you pass me the potion?

Yes that's fine.

Did you hear that

They're letting muggles in Hogwarts this year.

Stupid Muggles!

Did you also notice I said “DiDZou”

you and not, did ...you?

“This year”

the S and Y combine into

A “SH” sound. ThiSHear.

This year.

You!What's your name?

Becky

Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

When one word finishes in a T sound and the next word begins with a Y sound,

we connect them with a “CH” sound

Meet you, Meet you.

Say it with me. Meet you. Nice to meet you.

That's good.

and when one word ends in an “N” sound

and the next word begins with a B, W, P, or M sound

For example, one muggle

the ‘N’ in “One” becomes ‘M’ to join muggle, Why?

Because it flows together and it makes you sound more fluent and less like a robot.

One muggle Same with in between.

No, in between.

Ms.. Melon, you don't have any friends.

Who are you texting?

At the end of each unit, you will be tested.

So say these sentences perfectly.

Would you turn to page 394?

What's your excuse, Mr.

Potter?

I want you to sit down.

Moving on. Dobby, go away.

Actually, that's a good one.

When you want to connect, go away.

We intrude a W sound in the middle.

Go away, And that’s the next spell. Bella.

“INTRUSIO!”

The Intrusion spell links two words together by adding an extra sound in the middle.

Those sounds are “W”, “R”, and “Y”

When one word ends in a vowel

sound like

your mouth naturally makes the shape o.

So if the next word begins with a vowel sound like

it sounds better to connect them with a

W sound, goWaway.

I know a wizard

and when a word finishes within a

And the next word has a vowel sound connected with the sound.

Me and you.

Me and you.

I also hate Harry Potter.

You understand? Yes.

there are of course other examples in British English.

We don't pronounce the “R”like Americans do, and therefore replace the “R”

sound at the end of words like Potter with a simple schwa

potter.

however, if the next word begins with a vowel sound,

we do pronounce the RA, it intrudes

into the two words

You! Say this!

Faster!

Harry Potter is over at Hagrid's Hut!

Good.

Using all three linking sounds,

How would you say this?

Sorry.

Am I boring you?

Next one, please, Bella.

“CATENATE!”

Catenation

Catenation is when the final consonant sound of one word

actually joins the next word if it begins with a vowel sound.

Dark arts, say with me dark arts The same with Death Eater.

No Death Theater.

Death Eater.

Oh, you think life isn't fair?

No. You think life isn't fair.

Life isn't fair.

And finally, elation

“ELISIO!”

Elision is when a word finishes

with a consonant sound like it to look

and the next word begins with a consonant sound

that T, D, or K will be removed

or “Elided”, particularly in a consonant cluster.

Only those severely lacking of you

will not know what a constant cluster is.

So let me give you some examples.

the first in Christmas.

Elide that “T”. Chris mas

The “SKT”in asked

You may elide the K

Only the brilliant of you will remember earlier

in our assimilation unit that we could make next year.

Some like next year.

But with elision you also have the option to elide

that sound “Nex year”

in fact, any sound,

any past tense verb (With a T sound ending!) when the next word starts with a consonant sound,

I helped them”No!” I help them.

I help them

just remove the sound altogether.

fine.

It's time for your final test to see if you truly are Hogwarts material.

Complete this test by saying out loud for everyone to hear

these sentences.

If your pronunciation matches mine, you may attend Hogwarts next year.

If not, Good luck.

Yes, it was rather good

Sorry,

Let me know how you did in the comments.

And I hope to see you next year.

I like this voice

Class dismissed.

Bye Bye.

fine.

You can stay

for now.

I like this voice.

I like this voice.

Class Dismissed.

C Perfect.

We don't say handbag.

No handbag.

Handbag.

for example, the

and thus make you more fluent

than just sound flowy.

You know,

for example, the words

Could you teach me about potion making?

facial fears?

You're an insufferable.

Know it all.

You And yes,

we could expect real artificial intelligence in the next decade.

Well, it means you're bringing jobs

like your tax your life academy all completed by.

And I

know.

my God. Are you serious?

I'm not making it up.

It's real.

You can look it up yourself.

God, I'm the expert, okay?

I'm the expert.

Now you.

Yes, I'm talking to you.

And finally illusion.

And finally elation.

Bella Then expel, please, Bella.

Then expel, please.

Bella, If you.

Bella, If you would be so kind, then expel

Now I must talk about the dark cards

for this one.

That will have to do.

Now. You?

Yeah, It's okay.

Assimilation is a natural part of English.

So though you may use spells now to improve your English fluency later,

it should just come naturally.

No shoes,

Notice I didn't say nice shoes.

That takes too long.

No, we're going to connect them.

Nice shoes.

You say it. Compliment my shoes.

Nice shoes.

Thank you.

Thank you. As a class, please.

Nice shoes.

Now you try it

That's fine too.

Could you pass me the potion?

Yes, that's fine.

Now you say it with me.

Could you pass me the potion?

Yeah.

Could you. No.

as a class All together.

Please. Could you.

Could you.

Say it with me class.

That includes you.

yes, that's fine.

Now you.

So the question.

Could you pass me the potion?

How miss Melon would you pronounce this with

perfect British pronunciation?

Could you pass me the potion?

Could you pass me the potion?