distinguish "can" and "can't" in spoken words

[fenglish]

Hi,

In many situations, it is hard to hear clearly if the talker says "can" and "can't", sometimes, I just guess that.

How to distinguish "can" and "can't" in spoken words.

Thanks.

[masterding]

Hi,

In many situations, it is hard to hear clearly if the talker says "can" and "can't", sometimes, I just guess that.

How to distinguish "can" and "can't" in spoken words.

Thanks.

It depends on whether you speak British English or American English.
For British English it's easy,can is pronounced [kæn],whereas can't is pronounced[kɑ:nt].
AS for American English it's more complicate,because normally t(can't) is not pronounced ,so it pretty much depends on the stress, for example,"I can't do it." [I kæn(t) do it] ,Both can't and do are stressed .
"I can do it." [I kən do it],only do is stressed.
I hope it helps you.

[Whiskeyjack]

It's tricky. I find that people usually put more emphasis on the word "can't" than "can". "Can" often gets slurred a bit.

If it sounds like, "I kin do it" or "I c'n do it" it's probably "can".

If you can easily hear the "a" sound, it's more likely "can't".

I hope this helps!

[fenglish]

It's tricky. I find that people usually put more emphasis on the word "can't" than "can". "Can" often gets slurred a bit.

If it sounds like, "I kin do it" or "I c'n do it" it's probably "can".

If you can easily hear the "a" sound, it's more likely "can't".

I hope this helps!

So, should we never put emphasis on "can"? it seems emphasis is the patent of "can't".

[greegorush]

So, should we never put emphasis on "can"? it seems emphasis is the patent of "can't".

I think your conclusion is wrong. Say it as clear as possible.

[fenglish]

I think your conclusion is wrong. Say it as clear as possible.

If I speak "can't", I will also pronounce "t".

It is hard to hear clearly if speaking by someone else, sometimes, I heard it is "can", but actually it is "can't".

[Linguist__]

It depends on whether you speak British English or American English.
For British English it's easy,can is pronounced [kæn],whereas can't is pronounced[kɑ:nt].
AS for American English it's more complicate,because normally t(can't) is not pronounced ,so it pretty much depends on the stress, for example,"I can't do it." [I kæn(t) do it] ,Both can't and do are stressed .
"I can do it." [I kən do it],only do is stressed.
I hope it helps you.

(Not a teacher)

I would say the replacement of word final 't' with a glottal stop is just as prevelant in British varieties of English as American. Not standard British English, but the major 'flavours' all drop word final 't' in the same way.

I find the glottal stop (the 't' in 'can't') is heard as a sort of break/pause before the next word, which you don't get when there is no glottal stop (i.e. when the word is 'can'). This is how I would distinguish it, at least.