Liaison Rule 3: Vowel Vowel

When a word ending in a vowel sound is next to one beginning with a vowel sound, they are connected with a glide between the two vowels.

A glide is either a slight y sound or a slight w sound.

How do you know which one to use?

This will take care of itself the position your lips are in will dictate either y or w.

Go away.

I also need the other one.

For example, if a word ends in o,

your lips are going to be in the forward position, so a w quite naturally leads into the next vowel sound

Gowaway.

You don't want to say

Go...away

and break the undercurrent of your voice.

Run it all together:

Gowaway.

After a long sound, your lips will be pulled back far enough to create a y glide or liaison:

I yalso need theyother one.

Don't force this sound too much, though.

It's not a strong pushing sound.

Iy also need theyother one would sound really weird.

Exercise 2-9: Vowel / Vowel Liaison Practice

Pause the CD and reconnect the following words as shown in the models.

Add a y glide after an e sound, and a w glide after an u sound.

Don't forget that the sound of the American O is really ou.

Check Answer Key, beginning on page 193.

Repeat.

she isn't

who is

go anywhere

so honest

through our

you are

he is

do I?

I asked

to open

she always

too often