Syllable Reductions Make Your Speech More Fluent

If you are a non-native English speaker and you are learning to speak American English, there are several rules of pronunciation, stress, and intonation that will help you be more fluent.

These practical tips can make a significant difference in your communication.

In North American English, many words with three or more syllables are “reduced,” or shortened. This is done by eliminating the syllable with the weakest stress or shortening it to sound more neutral. These syllable reductions help us pronounce the word more smoothly and naturally. Remember, syllable reductions and pronunciation may vary from region to region.

What are the rules?

1. The middle sound or vowel of the word may be “eliminated.” Often, the reduced syllable includes "r."  Here are some examples:

• comfortable becomes “comf-table”

• laboratory becomes “lab-ratory”

• every becomes “evry”

• favorite becomes “fav-rite”

• temperature becomes “tem-pra-ture”

• beverage becomes “bev-rage”

Here are some other common words that are reduced:

• vegetable becomes “veg-table”

• business becomes “bus-ness”

• Wednesday becomes “Wens-day”

2. Typically words that have the suffix -cally are reduced to “klee.”

• automatically

• practically

• theoretically

• basically

• technically

• specifically

3. When a "c" is followed by the suffix -ial or -ian, the suffix is pronounced as "sh" and sounds like “shul” or “shen”

• social

• financial

• beautician

• physician

4. Function words are often reduced in conversational speech. By minimizing the conjunctions, articles, and pronouns, the more important content words stand out. In conversation, the word “and” often gets reduced to ‘n.’

• trial ’n error

• Research ‘n Development

• rock ’n roll

• coffee ’n tea

• on ’n off

• ladies 'n gentlemen

Observing these rules will make your speech more fluent. Check out the online training platform “Master the American Accent” to learn more practical rules  HERE   or check out the RULES book HERE.

Post any questions or comments below or reach out to me about accents, public speaking, or communication skills at LKWilner@Successfully-Speaking.com.