What is connected speech?
When we speak naturally we do not pronounce a word, stop, then say the next word in the sentence. Fluent speech flows with a rhythm and the words bump into each other. To make speech flow smoothly the way we pronounce the end and beginning of some words can change depending on the sounds at the beginning and end of those words.

These changes are described as features of connected speech.

Consonant to vowel linking - when the first word ends with a consonant sound and the second word begins with a vowel sound. See Radio Programme 1

Vowel to vowel linking - when certain vowels come next to each other an extra sound is added to make the link smooth. See Radio Programme 1

Linking 'r'
In standard British English (RP) the letter 'r' after a vowel sound at the end of word is often not pronounced. However, when the following word begins with a vowel the /r/ sound is pronounced to make a smooth link. See Radio Programme 2

Sounds disappear
When the sounds /t/ or /d/ occur between two consonant sounds, they will often disappear completely from the pronunciation. See Radio Programme 2

Sounds join together
When a word ends in a consonant sound and the following word begins with the same consonant sound, we don't pronounce two sounds - both sounds are pronounced together as one. See Radio Programme 2