Re: Liaisons / "Linking" words There are two things going on here. First, the sound change is a natural process. It's called voicing assimilation:
At the end of a word, a voiceless sound (e.g. p, t, s, k) become voiced (e.g. b, d, z, g) if it comes after a voiced sound, like this, /s/ => [z]
sends => send[z]
That pronunciation is English. It's the English "accent". Note, the pronunciation send[s] is not English, and, moreover, if pronounced that way it's a tell-tale sign that the speaker is not a native English speaker. That is, non-native speakers say send[s]it.
At the end of a word, a voiced sound (e.g. b, d, z, g) become voicless (e.g. p, t, s, g) if it comes after a voiceless sound, like this, /d/ => [t]
switched => switch[t]
(the pronunication switch[d] is not English)
Other examples include cats, dogs, roses.
cats => cat[s]
dogz => dog[z]
roses => ros[Iz]
Second, pronouncing two words as one, like this,
sends it => sen[z]it
switched on => switch[t]on
is attributed to syllable structure contraints. CV(C) syllables are the more preferred in English. If there are too many Consonants or too few Consonants, the array of sounds is restructured, like this, Syllable Restructuring
The sounds [z] is moved to word-initial position to form a CVC syllable:
1. CVCCC+VC => CVCC+CVC
EX: send[z] it => send+[z]it Syllable Restructuring Syllable Reduction
"d" is deleted. It interferes with the speech flow.
2. CVCC+CVC => CVC+CVC
EX: send+[z]it => sen[z]it Syllable Reduction
So, in the end, after voicing assimilation takes place and syllable structure contraints are satisfied, the string "sends it" is pronounced as sen[z]it, without [d]. That's the English "accent". The pronunciation send[z]it, with [d], is not English.
:D
One of my favorites is this, It's not is pronounced as It's [s]not.
:D |