I want you to try this quick exercise...
Simply read this sentence out loud - (quickly):
"It's the middle of the day, and he's still in bed!"
Not bad... now do it one more time, and remember to do it quickly! (Because that is how British people actually talk...)
"It's the middle of the day, and he's still in bed!"
So... What did you notice? Well, what if I told you, that if you have said this sentence correctly, then it should actually sound like:
"It's the middle of the day, and he's still im-bed!"
That's right! Try it again, and you will see what I'm talking about.
So, why is this, I hear you ask? Have I put some sort of weird Bri'ish spell on you, that stops you from saying words correctly???
Not yet, but maybe one day.
The reason it SHOULD sound like 'im-bed', is due to a little (BUT VERY IMPORTANT) thing called: 'connected speech' (well, specifically, 'assimilation').
Assimilation? What on earth is that?
As I'm sure you know, all Bri'ish people like tea. But that doesn't really have anything to do with this.
What Bri'ish people ALSO like, is to speak very quickly... and also.... very lazily.
That is why native speakers use something called 'assimilation' in everyday conversation.
Never heard of this? Well, that is because...
This will NEVER be taught in a text book!
Don't ask me why...
But, not to worry, as I have created a quick guide on the 'assimilation' part of connected speech!
