Dear all,
Is it possible to reduce preposition to weak form
Turn on ( not phrasal verb ) : tɜː(r)n ən
with linking /connecting : tɜː(r)nən
Many thanks
Yes and no.
If you have to ask this type of question, it means that you need to listen to English more. You will not become more easily understood by trying to say "tɜː(r)nən" even if it sounds that way when some people say it - and if it does, then your question is answered.
Learn "turn on", and once you are so familiar with using it in conversaton with other English speakers that you spontaneously weaken some of your sounds without being conscious of it, you will understand that such questions are pointless.
Actually, the vowel in 'on' is rarely weakened to /ə/ in any position. The only prepositions with common weak forms in BrE are at, by, for, from, of and to.
Thanks fivejedjon,
so what is the IPA transcription for weak by
is it / bə / ?
Last edited by duiter; 16-Dec-2010 at 15:34. Reason: add ''the''
To Fivejedjon,
Actually, the vowel in 'on' is rarely weakened to /ə/ in any position. The only prepositions with common weak forms in BrE are at, by, for, from, of and to
Why do some preposition have weak / reduced form, such as '' at, from '' , while others don't have, such as '' on, up '' ?
Why ''on and up '' is not reduced / don't have reduced/ weak form ?
many thanks
Last edited by duiter; 18-Dec-2010 at 09:43. Reason: edit
Sorry. I'll have to leave that to someone with knowledge to answer. I could only guess.