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June 5, 2024

#2942: Fluid Speech explain

Fluid Speech

{{incomplete transcript|A description of the path of the sound.}}

[Above the panel:]

Fun fact: Experienced speakers constantly merge, drop, and alter sounds when talking at normal conversational speed to optimize for efficient mouth movement.

[The panel shows four labeled side profiles of a mouth with paths of sounds made in different parts of the mouth. There is a label “More fluid” with an arrow pointing to the right. From left to right:]

[Label:]

Going to

/ɡoʊɪŋ tu/

[Path:] (G O » I » NG » » ) ( » T » » O)

[Label:]

Goin’ to

/ɡoʊɪn tə/

[Path:] (G O » I » N)(T » » O)

[Label:]

Gonna

/ɡʌn.ə/

[Path:] (G O » NN » A)

[Label:]

How fluent speakers actually say it when speaking rapidly

/ɡə̃/

[Path:] (G » » ə̃)

[Below the panel:]

If you think you don’t do this, try to use “hot potato” in a sentence and fully pronounce the first “t” without sounding like an alien impersonating a human.