How to Make Yourself Understood
English I

Online Materials

Tips for English Speech Sounds
Unit 4Beware of Sound Change – Part 2

キーワード（key words）
鼻音の二重化（nasal doubling） 鼻母音置き換え（nasal replacement）
鼻音共有（nasal sharing）

開音節言語（open-syllable language）

閉音節言語（closed-syllable language）

子音脱落（consonant drop）

How to Make Yourself UnderstoodTips for English Speech Sounds
Unit 4Beware of Sound Change – Part 2- CONTENTS -Scripts and Annotations（スクリプトと解説）
Warming Up Quiz:「N」Variation in Japanesep. 49… N + Vowel in English

p. 51… C + Vowel in English

p. 52

Consonant Drop in English

p. 53

Summaryp. 54

Further Tips
(1) 英語は閉音節言語・日本語は開音節言語

p. 55

English is a closed syllable language
Japanese is an open syllable language(2) 単語の中での子音脱落も。脱落形が辞書形になった例もConsonant drop within a word
Dropped form as a dictionary form

p. 56

Satoshi Oku and Jeff Gayman48

Unit 4 Beware of Sound Change – Part 2

Scripts and Annotations (スクリプトと解説)
Hello everyone. I’m Chuck Brown. I’m from Columbus, Ohio, in the United States, and I’ve been teaching at
Hokkaido University since 2013. In Unit 3, we learned a few important sound change patterns in English. In
Unit 4, today, we are going to learn some more sound change patterns that are challenging especially for
native speakers of Japanese; that is, variation of nasal “N” sound, sound linkage (or liaison), and consonant
drop. Let’s start by considering the following Japanese examples.

Warming Up Quiz:「N」Variation in JapaneseThis is おう (応), and this is はん (反). Now, notice, however, that if we combine these two words, something
very interesting happens. How do you pronounce this?
反(はん)

応(おう)

You do not pronounce this as はん おう. Rather, it is pronounced as はんのう (反応). Right? Somehow an
extra “N” sound is added. Let’s look at some more examples of the same pattern.
観(かん)

音(おん)

山(さん)

王(おう)

This is not かん おん, but かんのん (観音). Likewise, you do not usually pronounce this as さん おう; rather,さんのう (山王). You see? In Japanese, when the first word ends with “N” sound and the next word starts
with a vowel, あ、い、う、え、or お, then sometimes, an extra N sound is added before the vowel. Let’s callthis rule “nasal doubling”, which can be observed in words such as 反応、観音、山王, as we’ve just seen.
There is another pattern frequently observed in Japanese, when N and a vowel get together. Consider thefollowing example.
全(ぜん)

員(いん)

In very careful speech, this word is pronounced as ぜんいん (全員), which is the dictionary form. However,in casual speech, the middle N is replaced by a nasalized vowel [ ẽ ]. So many Japanese actually pronounce
this as ぜーいん, as in 全員集合 (ぜーいんしゅーごー). This new vowel is slightly nasalized, which meansthat part of the air from your lungs goes through your nose when you pronounce this sound. The same patternis quite frequently found.

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How to Make Yourself Understood
半(はん)

音(おん)

For instance, in casual daily conversations, はんおん is often pronounced as [h a ã o N] (はーおん), with theN sound replaced by a nasal vowel [ ã ], as in 半音階.
恋(れん)

愛(あい)

Likewise, れんあい, is pronounced, in casual speech, as [r e ẽ a i] (れーあい), with the N sound replaced by anasal vowel [ ẽ ]; れーあい、れーあい.
Let’s call this strategy Nasal Vowel Replacement. The “N” sound in the dictionary form is replaced by anasalized vowel.
Let’s wrap up the points so far. In Japanese when the “N” sound is followed by a vowel sound, such as お, it
may be realized as the accurate dictionary form in very careful speech, like はんおん.
In casual speech, on the other hand, this “N” sound is often replaced by a nasal vowel, and the word ispronounced as はーおん [h a ã on]. In the same context of the “N – vowel sequence,” such as はん おう, it
is sometimes the case that the nasal doubling is obligatory, and the word always turns out to be はん のう.
In other words, the “N” doubling form here becomes a dictionary form in examples like はんのう, かんのん,さんのう, and so on.

Points―――――――――――――――

・日本語の音韻：「～n」＋母音の場合」
 パターン１：[n]音が追加される「鼻音の二重化（nasal doubling）
はん(反) + おう(応)haN はん のう (反応)ouhaNNouその他の例：観音 [k a N N o N]、山王 [s a N N o u]」 パターン２：[n]が鼻母音に置き換わる「鼻母音置き換え（nasal replacement）
 ぜ～いん (全員)

ぜん いん (全員)zeN iN
その他の例：

zeẽiN半音 [h a N o N]  は～おん [h a ã o N]
恋愛 [r e N a i]  れ～あい [r e ẽ a i]・パターン１は辞書形になっており、丁寧な発話でも、くだけた会話でも二重の鼻音があらわれる（＊固有名詞的なので、「かんおん」「さんおう」発音される地域もあり）・パターン２は丁寧な発話では、鼻母音置き換えが起こらず、辞書形どおりに発音されるが、日常会話では多くの場合、鼻母音置き換えが起こっている  多くの日本語母語話者が無意識のうちに従っている音韻規則
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Unit 4 Beware of Sound Change – Part 2… N + Vowel in English

OK? These are instances of sound change rules that most Japanese speakers unconsciously follow. Now,
bearing this in mind, let’s consider what happens in English, when the nasal “n” sound is followed by a vowel.
Look at the following example.
run + er
When the word run is followed by –er, neither of the Japanese nasal rules applies. Don’t be trapped by thespelling! Although an extra “N” is added here in the English writing system, in terms of speech sound, wehave only one N sound here. Therefore, it is NOT pronounced as ランナー (“raŋ+Na－”) with double N. It isjust runner [rʌnər] with a single “N” sound. Runner [rʌnər]. This “N” sound is originally the Coda (or the lastsound) of the syllable run, but it is pronounced, at the same time, as if it is also the Onset (or the first sound)of the following syllable –er. Let’s call this “nasal sharing.”
Now here is a tip for English pronunciation, especially for Japanese students. When you pronounce an “Nplus vowel” sequence in English, do not use the Japanese rule Nasal Doubling. Rather, try to use the English
rule “nasal sharing”. OK. Let’s practice a bit.
thinnerThis is thinner [θinər]. Don’t pronounce this as シンナー [“θiŋ+Na－”], which is a typical Japanese mistake.

Thinner [θinər].

Points―――――――――――――――

・英語の音韻：「～n」＋母音の場合
 鼻音が前の音節の最後の音であると同時に、後ろの音節の最初の音にもなる：「鼻音共有（nasal sharing）」
runner[rʌnər]: [n]は[rʌn]の最後の音であると同時に、[nər]の最初の音 [n]音はあくまでも 1 つ 典型的な日本人式発音：上記の日本語音韻規則パターン 1「鼻音の二重化」を持ち込んでしまう× ランナー [raŋna－]◎ [rʌnər]「ラナ」に近い音

× ハンマー [hamma－]◎ [hæmər]「ハマ」に近い音

× シンナー [θiŋna－]◎ [θinər]

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How to Make Yourself Understood
Next, turn in [tərnin]. Try NOT to say these two words separately like “turn ‘in”. Try to link the N sound inturn with the following word in. It’s good if you hear some [ni] sound. Turn in [tərnin].
Next, open-air [oupnɛər]. Again, don’t say these two words separately like “open ‘air”. The final N in open
sounds as if it is also the first sound of air. So again, it is good if you hear something like [nɛ] sound, like

open-air [oupnɛər]. Well then, how do you pronounce this in natural speed English?
burn out
Yeah! It is burn out [bərnaut]. Do you hear some [na] like sound in the middle of the phrase? It is NOT “burn‘out”. Rather, burn out [bərnaut].

Points―――――――――――――――

・英語の音韻：「～n」＋母音の場合

turn in：turn の[n]が in の[i]の最初の音のようになるので、[ni]のような音が出る
× ターンイン◎ [tərnin]（「ターニン」に近い音）

open-air：open の[n]が air の[ɛ]の最初の音に。[nɛ]のような音が出る
× オープンエア◎ [oupnɛə](「オープネア」に近い音)

burn out：burn の[n]が out の[a]の最初の音に。[an]のような音が出る
× バーンアウト◎ [bərnaut](「バーナウ(ツ)」に近い音)――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――… C + Vowel in English

Now, this sound pattern is actually more general in English. When a word ends with a consonant even otherthan nasal “n”, it’s combined together with the following vowel, and pronounced as if it is the first sound of
the second word. Let’s look at some examples.
break up[kʌ]Here, the last [k] sound of break is linked to the first vowel of up, and thus the phrase sounds like break up.
big apple[gæ]52

Unit 4 Beware of Sound Change – Part 2
Similarly, in big + apple, the [g] sound is linked to the [æ] sound of apple. So, big apple. One more example.
heads or tails[zə]Here, the last sound [z] in heads is linked to the [ɔ:] sound of or, and thus you may hear a [zə] like sound in
the middle of the phrase. heads or tails.

Points―――――――――――――――

・英語の音韻：もっと一般的に、子音＋母音の場合

break up：break の[k]が up の[ʌ]の最初の音のようになるので、[kʌ]のような音が出る
× ブレイクアップ◎ [breikʌp]（「ブレイカッ」に近い音）

big apple：big の[g]が apple の[æ]の最初の音に。[gæ]のような音が出る
× ビッグアップル◎ [bigæpl](「ビガプゥ」に近い音)

heads or tails：heads の[z]が or の[ɔ:]の最初の音に。[zə]のような音が出る
× ヘッズオアテイルズ◎ [hɛdzəteilz](「ヘゾテイルズ」に近い音)

類例：get out, get on, get in, kick off, take out, sum up,――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Consonant Drop in English

Good! It’s interesting, isn’t it? We’ve seen that in Japanese, sometimes, an extra consonant N is inserted inexamples, like han-nou (反応) or kan-non (観音). In English, however, quite the opposite may happen veryfrequently. That is, when the identical consonants appear next to each other in casual speech, the sequenceis pronounced as if there is only one sound there. For example, this is big + ‘game in very careful speech, but
in casual daily conversations, it is actually pronounced as bi(g)game, as if there is only one [g] sound.

bi(g)game. Next, take + ‘care is quite often pronounced as ta(ke) care. And, first + ‘time will be pronounced
as firs(t) time in casual speech as if there is only one [t] sound there. Firs(t) time.
OK? Now, the English sound change system goes still further. Even when the two adjacent consonants areNOT exactly the same, one of these consonants is often dropped in casual speech. Sometimes, the first
consonant becomes very weak and is dropped eventually. For example, good + ‘bye becomes goo(d)-bye. Or,back + ‘door turns out to be ba(ck)-door. On the other hand, the second of these adjacent consonants may besometimes deleted. For instance,I like them53How to Make Yourself Understood

I like them becomes I like’em.
Did you call her?
Similarly, Did you call her? is pronounced in causal speech as Did you call’er? by dropping the [h] sound inher. Did you call’er?

Points―――――――――――――――

・日本語では、子音[n]が増えることがあった

haN + ou  haN Nou (鼻音の二重化)

英語の子音脱落（Consonant drop）
・英語では同じ子音が並ぶと、一方か消える場合あり
big game× ビッグゲーム◎ [bi(g)geim](「ビゲイ(ム)」に近い音)

take care× テイクケア◎ [tei(k)kɛə](「テイケア」に近い音)

first time× ファーストタイム◎ [fərs(t)taim](「フースタイ(ム)」に近い音)・並んだ子音が完全に同じ音でなくても、消える場合あり
 前の子音が消える場合
good bye× グッドバイ◎ [gu(d)bai](「グバイ」に近い音)

back door

× バックドア◎ [bæ(k)dɔ:r](「バッドー」に近い音) 後の子音が消える場合
I like them  I like’em

them の th が落ちて「ライケム」に近い音にDid you call her  Did you call’erher の h が落ちて「コーラー」に近い音に――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

Summary

OK? So let’s summarize today’s lesson. Both Japanese and English have many sound change patterns, butthey are sometimes quite different. As we’ve seen today, when an “N” is followed by a vowel, nasal vowel
replacement is a very common practice in Japanese, as in は～おん or ぜ～いん, and even nasal doubling
sometimes happens as well in Japanese as in はんのう or かんのん. However, none of these applies toEnglish in the same phonological context. Instead, nasal sharing is the common practice in this case in
English. The N is pronounced as if it is the first sound of the next word. Representative examples are, open-air, or turn out. Don’t say ランナー[raŋ + Naー]. It’s runner [rʌnər].
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Unit 4 Beware of Sound Change – Part 2Next, we’ve seen another type of English sound change pattern, which many Japanese students are not very
good at: Consonant drop. This phonetic phenomenon is quite typical in the English sound change system,especially when identical or similar sounds are aligned next to each other. Therefore, if you get accustomed
to consonant drop patterns in English, your pronunciation will be very clear and natural. Plus, your listening
comprehension will also become a lot better.
Satoshi: Hi, Chuck.
Chuck: Hey, Satoshi.
Satoshi: Shall we do it?
Chuck: OK. Yeah, good idea.
Heads or tails?
Satoshi: Heads.
Chuck: It’s tails. I won.
Okay, that’s all for today. Good luck, keep practicing, and see you next time～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

Further Tips (1)英語は閉音節言語 / 日本語は開音節言語
日本語は、音節末の「ん」や促音（小さい「っ」で表す）の場合を除き、音節はすべて母音[a, i, u, e, o]で終わる
開音節言語（open-syllable language）です。したがって、通常子音の連続は起こりません。一方、英語は音節が子音で終わる単語がたくさんある閉音節言語（closed-syllable language）です。したがって、子音で終わっている単語の次に、母音が来たり、子音で終わっている単語の次に子音で始まる単語がくるなど、日本語ではあまり見られない、音のつながりのパターンがたくさん出てきます。
[ 単語 …子音] + [母音 … 単語 ][ 単語 …子音] + [子音 … 単語 ]このような時に起こる音韻変化のパターンを一通り覚え、それを意識しながら発音練習を積み重ねていくと、英語の聞き取り、発音ともに飛躍的によくなります。

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Further Tips (2)単語の中での子音脱落も脱落形が辞書形になった例も

上記では、ba(ck) door や bi(g) game、I like (th)em のように、単語と単語が繋がった場合の子音脱落の例を見てきました。実際には１つの単語の中で、特定の子音がほとんど聞こえなくなる（脱落する）例もあります。
actually [ækʧuəli]は通常の発音で、[k]の音が次の[ʧ]に吸収され、ほとんど聞こえなくなります。[æ(k)ʧuəli]
apartment も、apart の[t]の音が次の[m]の音に吸収されてほとんど聞こえなくなります。[əpɑ:r(t)mənt]
さらにつづりから見ると本来あったと思われる子音の音が、現代英語では完全に発音されなくなっている例もあります。
Wednesday の最初の[d]音は、多くの標準的英語において、全く発音されません。[wenzdei]
cupboard の[p]の音も、全く発音されません。[kʌbərd]＊見た目（つづり）に惑わされず、本物の音で覚えておく習慣をつけましょう。

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