Connected speech in EFL pedagogy

Abstract

: The following article discusses the alterations that form an integral part in native-like English fluid speech, or connected speech, and its role in English Language Teaching (ELT) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning. The first section will analyse what exactly happens when native speakers speak in a fast and unrestricted way. The analysis will make reference to 4 specific phenomena associated with connected speech: assimilation, elision, catenation/intrusion, and vowel reduction/ centralisation, respectively. The second section will briefly detail some of the issues connected speech causes for learners of English, such as the lack of similarities between their native language and their target language. The third section will outline at length some methods through which instructors in EFL classrooms can bring connected speech into their language teaching arsenal. Both receptive and productive activities are included here to suit a variety of teaching styles and learner preferences.