weak form of preposition

Status
Not open for further replies.

duiter

Member
Joined
May 22, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Indonesian
Home Country
Malaysia
Current Location
Indonesia
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
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
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.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
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.
 

duiter

Member
Joined
May 22, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Indonesian
Home Country
Malaysia
Current Location
Indonesia
Thanks fivejedjon,

so what is the IPA transcription for weak by

is it / bə / ?
 
Last edited:

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
so what is the IPA transcription for weak by
I'd have to see context for that.

In I go to work by car, by could be somewhere in the /bə-bI/ area.
 

duiter

Member
Joined
May 22, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Indonesian
Home Country
Malaysia
Current Location
Indonesia
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:

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
Sorry. I'll have to leave that to someone with knowledge to answer. I could only guess.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top