Hello. I'm Gill at engVid, and today we have
a lesson on pronunciation, and this is to do with something that I notice quite a lot
nowadays when there is a "t" at the end of one word, followed by the next word beginning
with a vowel sound. So, for example, with "that is", I notice a lot of people pronounce
it "that is", "that is", and they kind of break it up, and it's a kind of in the throat,
"that is". And you don't actually hear the "t" sound at the end of "that", and a nice,
easy way of making the "t" sound clear is just to join it up with the next word. So,
"that is", "that is", and it's a nice, smooth way of speaking rather than just breaking
everything up all the time. "That is", "that is", it sort of catches in your throat. So,
it's a choice. I mean, a lot of people do the missing "t" now. A lot of people miss
out the "t" sound altogether. But then, if your first language isn't English, you may
find that difficult to understand what someone is saying. If you... You know the word "that"
ends with a "t", but then you don't hear it - "that is", and you think, "Oh, are they saying
'that'?" because you don't hear the "t". So, this is just a choice for native speakers
as well as for people learning English as a foreign language. I think maybe people,
if they're with their friends and they're being very relaxed, they may use this kind
of sound. "That is", "that is", it's a bit more casual. People do it, I think, to fit
in with their friends, so they all sound the same in the way they're pronouncing things.
But maybe if you were going to an interview, for example, whether you're native English or
English isn't your first language, if you're going to an interview, a more formal situation,
you might want to think about making the "t" sounds because it sounds... To my ears, anyway,
it's just my opinion, it sounds nicer and smoother to hear the "t". So, if I just go
through the list here to illustrate what I mean. "What I mean", that's an example as
well. So, we have "that is", "it is", "part of", "what if", "eat up", "lot of", "write
up". Okay. So, each time the "t", and it's followed by a word beginning with a vowel
sound. So, it's nice just to do it smoothly and run the two words together. If I now do
this list with the "t" missing, you may be able to hear how much more broken up and maybe
less pleasant it can sound without the "t". So, "that is", "it is", "part of", "what if",
"eat up", "lot of", "write up". So, to me, I have to really make an effort to do that
because I don't usually speak that way, but that's just to demonstrate how broken up it
can... It... It can sound... It can sound... I mean, I do it myself sometimes, but that was
"it can". The next word began with a consonant, "c", "c". So, there are differences depending
on the word that follows, but here these all definitely follow with a vowel sound. So,
"that is", "it is", "part of", "what if", "eat up", "lot of", "write up". I think it sounds
much smoother and it's clearer, too, because you can hear the "t". You know what the word
is if English isn't your first language. Okay, and then we have some other examples
where it's one word, but the "t" is in the middle, and again, the "t" is followed by a
vowel sound. In this list it's all the verb... Verbal words ending "ing", the usually present
participle. So, we have "cutting", not "cutting". "Cutting", I hear people say "cutting". And,
you know, if you don't know English very well, you might think "Oh, what word was that?" "Cut",
"cutting". So, "getting", not "getting", "getting", but "getting". "Letting", not "letting", "letting",
but "letting". Okay. "Meeting", "meeting". "Putting", "sitting", "waiting". I think it's
actually a lot easier to make the "t" sound because it just flows nicely and smoothly.
So... Okay, so then the third column here, again, it's one word, and these are the verbs
ending "ed", which is usually the past form of the verb. So, we have "doubted", not "doubted",
"doubted", "doubted". It sounds strange. "Doubted", and "hated", "noted", "seated", "weighted".
So, you may hear people missing the "t" and you might think "Oh, I hear this so much now.
That must be the right way to do it", and you may start copying. But my advice is, you
know, think about it, and maybe especially if you're going for an interview, it's best
to try to sound, you know, sound good when you're speaking, and I do personally think
it sounds better to hear the "t" sound and much clearer and smoother. So... But we now
have the second part of the lesson where we will have a few sentences
which contain the "t". Okay, so here we are with the second part
of the lesson and some sentences. So, if I read each sentence first and you might like
to repeat it after me. Okay. So, first of all, I need to write up my report. Okay? So,
can you see where the "t", what I call "t run-on", sometimes you can call it "t run-on".
So, "write up" is where it comes. Okay? So, I need to write up my report. Not "I need to
write up", not "write up", but "write up". Okay? So, I'll say it once more. I need to
write up my report. So, would you like to repeat it? Okay. Right, so next one. "I'm
sorry he's not in." So, can you see where the "t" runs on? "I'm sorry he's not in."
There, "not in", "not in". So, it's not "I'm sorry he's not in", but "I'm sorry he's not
in". So, would you like to say it? Okay. Good. Next one. "Yes, it is a lot of work." So,
we have two examples in one sentence, there. Can you see both of them? "Yes, it is a lot of
work." So, there's one there, and one there. Okay. So, would you like to say it after me?
"Yes, it is a lot of work." Okay. Good. And then a short one. "That is true. That is true."
So... And once more. "That is true." Okay. And then finally, "When are they going to
visit us?" Can you see where the "t" runs on? "When are they going to visit us?" Okay,
there, if you'd like to say it. Right, so I'll just go through one more time each sentence,
finally, so that you can hear it again to end the lesson. So, "I need to write up my
report." "I'm sorry he's not in." "Yes, it is a lot of work." "That is true." "When are
they going to visit us?" Okay, so I hope that's been helpful, and to help you to speak English
nice and clearly, and to be also aware of how other people might be speaking and not
pronouncing the "t", just because everybody has a choice, so I'm not trying to make any
rules about pronunciation. I'm just pointing out that there is a difference in the way
different people speak, so... And you can choose which way to do it. In some situations, when
it's an informal group of people, you might be more casual about it, but in an interview or
something more formal, a meeting with clients, you might want to maybe change it a little
bit. So... Okay, so that's the end of the lesson for today. So,
see you again soon. Bye for now.
