IMPOSSIBLE! [or NOT?] \u2013 Learn English Conversation in 4 Hours (https:\/\/youtu.be\/8FzY7cgKOmI)<\/a><\/noscript><\/div>\nVideo Transcript:<\/h2>\n
Understanding native speakers and fast English isn\u2019t about understanding the sounds of American English, it\u2019s about all the other things: linking, reductions. The more you study them, the more effortlessly you\u2019ll be able to speak fast English and understand native speakers.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nToday, we\u2019re going to do just that in 18 conversations and monologues.\u00a0 Here\u2019s the first one we\u2019ll study with the analysis we\u2019ll do together.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Tom, what did you do today?<\/span>
\n>> Today I woke up and I went for a run and um, then I just worked.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> So, where do you run?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> I run in Fort Greene Park, in Brooklyn.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> So, what are you doing after this?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> After this, nothing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> No plans. \/ No plans.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Should we get dinner?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPage Break\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>>Yeah.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nNow, let’s do an in-depth analysis to study all these important parts. Linking, reductions, flap Ts, stress and so on.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Tom, what did you do today?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Today I woke up<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTom, what did you do today?\u00a0 Lots of interesting things happening here.\u00a0 I noticed first of all that I\u2019ve dropped the T here:\u00a0 what did, what did, what did you do?\u00a0 I\u2019m also noticing I\u2019m getting more of a J sound here, j-ou, j-ou.\u00a0 Whuh-dih-jou, dih-jou.\u00a0 So the D and the Y here are combining to make the J sound.\u00a0 So we have wuh-dih-jou, what did you [3x].\u00a0 Tom, what did you do today?\u00a0 The other thing I notice is that the T here is really more of a flap sound, a D, do duh-, do duh-, do today, this is most definitely a schwa, so we\u2019re reducing this unstressed syllable to be the schwa.\u00a0 Today, today, do today, to today.\u00a0 Tom, what did you do today?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Tom, what did you do today?<\/span>
\n>> Today?\u00a0 >> Today.<\/span>
\n>> Today I woke up\u2026<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nNow here we have \u2018today\u2019 three times.\u00a0 Always, the first syllable is reduced to the schwa sound, but I\u2019m noticing that these T\u2019s are all True T\u2019s, and not Flap T\u2019s.\u00a0 That\u2019s because they are beginning sentences.\u00a0 So, we\u2019re not going to reduce that to a Flap T.\u00a0 In the case up here, \u2018do today\u2019, it came, the T in \u2018today\u2019, came in between a vowel, \u2018do\u2019, the OO vowel, and the schwa sound.\u00a0 And that\u2019s why we made this a flap sound.\u00a0 But here we\u2019re beginning a sentence, so we\u2019re going to go ahead and give it the True T sound\u2014though we will most definitely reduce to the schwa.\u00a0 Today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Today?\u00a0 >> Today. [3x]<\/span>
\n>> Tom, what did you do today?<\/span>
\n>> Today?\u00a0 >> Today.<\/span>
\n>> Today I woke up\u2026<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nEverything was very connected there, and I know that when we have something ending in a vowel or diphthong sound, and the next word beginning in a vowel or diphthong sound, that we want that to really glide together, today I [3x].\u00a0 And anytime we have a word that begins with a vowel, we want to say, hmm, does the word before end in a consonant sound?\u00a0 It does.\u00a0 It ends in the K consonant sound, woke up, woke up.\u00a0 So, to help us link, we can almost think of it as beginning the next word, wo-kup, woke up.\u00a0 Today I woke up.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Today?\u00a0 >> Today.<\/span>
\n>> Today I woke up, and I went for a run.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAnd I went for a run.\u00a0 Tom dropped the D here, connected this word \u2018and\u2019 to \u2018I\u2019, \u2018and I\u2019 [3x].\u00a0 This was the schwa sound, so he\u2019s reduced \u2018and\u2019.\u00a0 And I, and I, and I went for a run.\u00a0 For a, for a.\u00a0 Tom reduced the vowel in the word \u2018for\u2019 to the schwa.\u00a0 And we\u2019ve connected these two function words together, for a, for a, for a, this is also a schwa.\u00a0 For a, for a, for a run, for a run, and I went for a run.\u00a0 Can you pick out the two stressed words here?\u00a0 Went, run.\u00a0 Those are the words that have the most shape in the voice.\u00a0 The most length:\u00a0 and I went for a run.\u00a0 And I went for a run.\u00a0 Again, he\u2019s got the intonation going up here at the end, because, comma, he\u2019s giving us a list here.\u00a0 And there\u2019s more information about to come.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Today I woke up,<\/span>
\nand I went for a run. [3x]<\/span>
\nAnd, um, then I just worked.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAnd, um\u2026 Now here, Tom did pronounce the D, he linked it to the next word, beginning with a vowel, which is just this thought-word that we say when we\u2019re thinking, and um, and um.\u00a0 Again, the intonation of the voice is going up at the end, and um, signaling, comma, not a period, more information coming.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAnd, um, [3x]<\/span>
\nthen I just worked.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWorked, worked, then I just worked.\u00a0 Here, finally, we have the intonation of the voice going down at the end.\u00a0 So we know, period, end of the sentence, end of the thought.\u00a0 Then I:\u00a0 he connected this ending consonant to the beginning vowel, the diphthong \u2018ai\u2019, I, to smooth that out.\u00a0 Then I, then I, then I just worked.\u00a0 Did you notice?\u00a0 Tom dropped the T here.\u00a0 We did not get \u2018just worked\u2019, \u2018just worked\u2019.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t release it.\u00a0 This happens often when we have a word that ends in a cluster with a T when the next word also begins with a consonant.\u00a0 In these cases, often, the T will get dropped.\u00a0 I just worked. [3x]\u00a0 Do you notice that the -ed ending is pronounced as a T sound.\u00a0 That\u2019s because the sound before, the K, is unvoiced.\u00a0 So this ending will also be unvoiced.\u00a0 Worked, worked.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u2026and I went for a run.<\/span>
\nAnd, um, then I just worked.\u00a0 [3x]<\/span>
\n>> So, where do you run?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSo, where do you run?\u00a0 Now, this is a question, but did you notice the intonation went down at the end? Run, run.\u00a0 That\u2019s because it\u2019s a question that cannot be answered with just \u2018yes\u2019 or \u2018no\u2019.\u00a0 Yes\/no questions go up in pitch at the end.\u00a0 All other questions tend to go down in pitch at the end.\u00a0 Where do you run?\u00a0 Do you hear the stressed words in that question?\u00a0 Where, run.\u00a0 So, where do you run?\u00a0 Longer words, more up\/down shape of the voice.\u00a0 Where, run.\u00a0 So where do you run?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> So, where do you run?\u00a0 [3x]<\/span>
\n>> I run in Fort Greene Park.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat do you hear as being the stressed syllables there?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> I run in Fort Greene Park. [3x]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nI run in Fort Greene Park.\u00a0 I hear da-da-da-DAA-DAA-DAA.\u00a0 Definitely I hear \u2018Fort\u2019, \u2018Greene\u2019, and \u2018Park\u2019 all being longer, all having that shape in the voice.\u00a0 I run in Fort Greene Park.\u00a0 Also, \u2018I\u2019 is a little more stressed than \u2018run in\u2019.\u00a0 I, I, DA-da-da, DA-da-da, I run in, I run in, run in, run in.\u00a0 So those two words are really linked together because we have and ending consonant and a beginning vowel.\u00a0 Run in, run in, I run in, I run in Fort Greene Park.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> I run in Fort Greene Park. [3x]<\/span>
\nIn Brooklyn.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIn Brooklyn.\u00a0 Brooklyn, a two-syllable word. One of the syllables will be stressed.\u00a0 What do you hear as being stressed?\u00a0 Brooklyn, Brooklyn.\u00a0 Definitely it\u2019s that first syllable.\u00a0 Brook-, Brook-, Brooklyn, Brooklyn.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> In Brooklyn. [3x]<\/span>
\n>> So, what are you doing after this?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSo, what are you doing after this?\u00a0 How was I able to say so many words quickly, but still be clear?\u00a0 First of all, I\u2019m dramatically reducing the word \u2018are\u2019 to the schwa-R sound, er, er.\u00a0 That means the T here is now coming between two vowel sounds, and I\u2019m making that a flap T sound, which sounds like the D between vowels.\u00a0 What are [3x].\u00a0 Also the word \u2018you\u2019 is unstressed, so it\u2019s going to be in that same line, what are you [4x], very fast, quite flat, lower in volume.\u00a0 What are you doing?\u00a0 Now here we have a stressed word, do-, doing.\u00a0 Doing, what are you doing?\u00a0 Do you hear how the syllable \u2018do\u2019 sticks out of that phrase more than anything else?\u00a0 What are you doing? [2x]\u00a0 After this.\u00a0 Another stressed word here.\u00a0 So what are you doing after this? [2x]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> So, what are you doing after this? [3x]<\/span>
\n>> After this, nothing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTom\u2019s speaking a little bit more slowly than I am here.\u00a0 After this, nothing.\u00a0 We have two 2-syllable words here.\u00a0 Which syllable is stressed?\u00a0 Let\u2019s take first the word \u2018after\u2019.\u00a0 If you think you hear the first syllable as being stressed, you\u2019re right.\u00a0 Af-, after, -ter, -ter, -ter.\u00a0 The second syllable:\u00a0 very low in pitch, flat, and quick.\u00a0 After.\u00a0 What about the word \u2018nothing\u2019?\u00a0 Again, it\u2019s the first syllable.\u00a0 ING endings, even though this isn\u2019t an ING verb, will be unstressed.\u00a0 Nothing, no-, no-, nothing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> After this, nothing. [3x]<\/span>
\n>> No plans.\u00a0 >> No plans.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nNothing reduces in this phrase.\u00a0 I\u2019m really hearing this as two different stressed words.\u00a0 They\u2019re both one syllable, no plans.\u00a0 No plans.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> No plans.\u00a0 >> No plans. [3x]<\/span>
\n>> Should we get dinner?\u00a0 >> Yeah.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nShould we get dinner?\u00a0 One of the things that I notice is that I\u2019m dropping the D sound:\u00a0 should we, should we.\u00a0 Should we get [3x].\u00a0 That\u2019s helping me say this less-important word even faster.\u00a0 Should we get dinner?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Should we get dinner?\u00a0 [3x]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nI notice that the T here is a Stop T, I don\u2019t release it.\u00a0 It\u2019s not \u2018get dinner\u2019, it\u2019s get, get, get, get dinner, get dinner.\u00a0 Should we get dinner?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Should we get dinner?\u00a0 [3x]<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nDo you notice, in this question my voice does go up in pitch at the end.\u00a0 Dinner, dinner.\u00a0 That\u2019s because this is a yes\/no question.\u00a0 Pitch goes up.\u00a0 Should we get dinner?\u00a0 Yeah.\u00a0 As you probably know, a more casual way to say \u2018yes\u2019.\u00a0 Should we get dinner?\u00a0 Yeah.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Should we get dinner?<\/span>
\n>> Yeah.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHere\u2019s the conversation again. You\u2019re going to see out markings on screen. You\u2019ll actually hear the conversation three times to help you really take in what you\u2019re seeing.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Tom, what did you do today?<\/span>
\n>> Today I woke up and I went for a run and um, then I just worked.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> So, where do you run?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> I run in Fort Greene Park, in Brooklyn.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> So, what are you doing after this?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> After this, nothing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> No plans. \/ No plans.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Should we get dinner?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPage Break\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>>Yeah.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Tom, what did you do today?<\/span>
\n>> Today I woke up and I went for a run and um, then I just worked.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> So, where do you run?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> I run in Fort Greene Park, in Brooklyn.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> So, what are you doing after this?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> After this, nothing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> No plans. \/ No plans.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Should we get dinner?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>>Yeah.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Tom, what did you do today?<\/span>
\n>> Today I woke up and I went for a run and um, then I just worked.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> So, where do you run?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> I run in Fort Greene Park, in Brooklyn.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> So, what are you doing after this?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> After this, nothing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> No plans. \/ No plans.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>> Should we get dinner?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n>>Yeah.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThat was Tom, my colleague and great friend. You\u2019re going to see some more conversations with him in this video. But first, another dear friend, Laura. We\u2019re grocery shopping. Just casual conversation between two friends. Let\u2019s see the conversation and then we\u2019ll study it.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nI just got my first weird look.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nBut you know what? At the end of the day, it doesn\u2019t matter.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n