Grammar Center
LIAISONS
What is Liaison?
Liaison is the pronunciation of a latent word-final consonant immediately before a following vowel sound.
Four Points where Liaisons happens:
1. Consonant and Vowel
Words are connected when a words ends in a consonant sound and the next word starts with a vowel sound, including the semivowels W, Y and R.
2 . Consonant and Consonant
Words are connected when a word ends in a consonant sound and the next word starts with a consonant that is a similar position.
| | Lips | Behind Teeth | Throat |
| Unvoiced | P, F | T, Ch, S, Sh | K, H |
| Voiced | B, V | D, J, Z, Zh | G, Ng, R |
3 . Vowel and Vowel
When a word ending in a vowel sound is next to one beginning with a vowel sound, they are connected with a glide between the two words. A glide is either a slight 'y' sound or a slight 'w' sound. If the word ends in 'o', use the glide 'w' and for long 'e' sound, use the glide 'y'.
4. T, D, S, or Z and Y Sound
When the letter or sound of T, D, S or Z is followed by a word that starts with Y, or its sound, both sounds are connected. These letters and sounds connect not only with Y, but they do so as well with the initial unwritten [y] sound of syllables and words. They form a combination that changes the pronunciation.
T + Y = J sound D + Y = J sound S + Y = SH sound Z + Y = ZH sound