Learning English

Tim
Hi. I'm Tim and this is my Pronunciation workshop. Here I'm going to show you how English is really spoken. Come on, let's go inside. Now, do you know the word speeb? No, of course not because it’s not a real word. Or is it? Listen to some people in London talking about this.

Voxpops
It’s a speed boat.
Speed boat.
Speed boat.
Speed boat.
Speed boat.

Tim
Now, the word speed ends in the sound /d/, doesn’t it? Well not always. Watch and listen again, what sound can you actually hear?

Voxpops
It’s a spee? boat.
Spee? boat.
Spee? boat.
Spee? boat.
Spee? boat.

Tim
In everyday speech, when we’re speaking fluently, if one word ends in a vowel sound followed by a /d/ and the next begins in a /b/, then the /d/ changes to a /b/ and then merges with the /b/ from the following word. So ‘speed boat’, becomes ‘speebboat’. Watch again, this time in slow motion. Look at the mouth shape. Can you see /d/ or is it just /b/?

Voxpops
Speeb boat.
Speeb boat.
Speeb boat.
Speeb boat.
Speeb boat.

Tim
This is another case of assimilation. Here are some more examples.

Examples
My son is a really good boy.
I’m sorry if I was rude before.
My car had to be towed back to the garage.
You should buy him a present.

Tim
So, you’ve heard the examples, and now it’s your turn. You know the drill. Listen and repeat.

Examples
My son is a really good boy.
I’m sorry if I was rude before.
My car had to be towed back to the garage.
You should buy him a present.

Tim
Well done. And remember, if you want to learn more about pronunciation, then please visit our website, bbclearningenglish.com. And that is about it from the pronunciation workshop for this week. I’ll see you soon. Bye bye! Aah – you know, one day I’m going to get one of these. Not a toy, obviously, but the real thing. My dad promised. He said if I was a good boy he’d buy me a boat. That was quite a long time ago actually. I think I was five years old – and I have been a good boy. Maybe he’s just forgotten. I’m never going to get my speed boat, am I?