Flow Builder

Weak does not mean wrong

Unstressed function words commonly reduce: a /ə/, an /ən/, and /ən/ or /ənd/, of /əv/, can /kən/, was /wəz/, were /wə/, from /frəm/. Before a vowel sound, the uses /ði/ and to uses /tu/; before a consonant they use /ðə/ and /tə/. Compare the hour with the university: follow the sound, not the first letter.

For /fə/, her /hə/, were /wə/ and are /ə/ can add linking /r/ before a vowel. Auxiliary have, has and had may lose /h/ after a pronoun: I have /aɪ əv/. Keeping /h/ in /həv/ is also possible. That reduces to /ðət/ only when this simple model recognises a likely reporting conjunction with a clear following subject: I think that…. Demonstrative that book keeps /ðæt/, including I think that book is good. Uncertain cases are left strong.

Function words are kept strong before a marked pause or at the end, and when marked with *asterisks* or CAPS. Unstressed you can remain short /ju/ after words such as did, would and got, even phrase-finally: did you /dɪdʒu/. Use *you* for emphatic /juː/. This deliberate pronoun exception reflects a common connected-speech pattern.

Have/has/had and do/does reduce only in likely auxiliary contexts. Possessive I have a cold is left strong. These are cautious word-context clues, not full grammatical analysis: use emphasis markers whenever the intended meaning differs.

Assimilation and coalescence

Final /t d n/ may anticipate the next consonant: before /p b m/ they can become /p b m/; before /k ɡ/ they can become /k ɡ ŋ/. Hence ten boys /tɛm bɔɪz/ and good girl /ɡʊɡ ɡɜːl/. This is an optional place change, not a demand to exaggerate both consonants.

At a /t + j/ or /d + j/ join, the sounds can fuse as /tʃ/ or /dʒ/: got you /ɡɒtʃu/, did you /dɪdʒu/. Separate /t j/ or /d j/ is also correct.

Linking, intrusive r and elision

Written R links before a vowel: far away /fɑːr əˈweɪ/, here it is /hɪər ɪt ɪz/. NEAR stays /ɪə/ across words — it does not become long KIT /ɪː/ just because the next word starts with a vowel. No /r/ is added before a consonant or pause.

Some speakers use intrusive /r/ after a suitable vowel without written R: law and order /lɔːr ənd ɔːdə/. Light /j/ and /w/ joins between other vowels are also optional; often they are simply a continuation of a diphthong.

Cluster /t/ or /d/ can drop before another consonant: next please /nɛks pliːz/, old man /ɒʊl mæn/. The simple rule does not delete the /d/ in good girl. When two processes compete, this model chooses coalescence first, then cluster elision, then place assimilation; it never deletes and assimilates the same sound.

Commas, sentence punctuation and line breaks are treated as pauses. Real speakers may join across a comma; this model is deliberately cautious. Unknown words are visibly marked, never invented. Homographs use the dictionary’s first reading. No audio, full syntax or individual speaking style is inferred.

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