What is Assimilation? | Connected Speech | English Pronunciation

Billie English - the KZbin channel to help you improve your English pronunciation, speaking and fluency! Billie is a certified CELTA English teacher trainer and has over 17 years of teaching experience. In this video we are going to look at assimilation, a feature of connected speech in English.
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★★ TIME STAMPS ★★
0:00 What is assimilation?
1:16 assimilation within a word
4:33 assimilation between words: n → m before b, m & p
6:41 assimilation between words: n → ŋ before k & g
10:00 assimilation between words: s → ʃbefore ʃ
11:27 assimilation between words: θ → s before s
13:04 assimilation between words: t followed by j → tʃ
14:52 assimilation between words: d followed by j → dʒ
16:45 Test Yourself!
★★ WHAT THIS VIDEO IS ABOUT★★
In this video we are going to look at a special feature of connected speech: assimilation in English phonology. Assimilation means that a sound changes to become more similar to the following sound. We are going to have a look at examples of assimilation within a word and also across word boundaries. Assimilation is a process that occurs naturally when we speak fast. For learners of English it is important to learn to recognise words in which assimilation occurs so they can fully understand what’s being said - sometimes words sound quite different in connected speech. The next step is to learn to use assimilation yourself because it allows you to speak faster and to sound more natural. Often learners ‘over-pronounce’ words and that makes them sound unnatural. Listen to the examples I give you and repeat them after me so you can improve your pronunciation. At the end of the video you’ll find a little test to see how much you have understood! Please note: There are several types of assimilation. In this video we are only going to look at the most common one in English - anticipatory assimilation to an adjacent segment, and only some examples. Assimilation could also happen between other sounds in English.
★★ ABOUT BILLIE ★★
Billie is a pronunciation coach and content creator based in Barcelona, Spain. Her main focus is English pronunciation, phonology and helping learners speak more fluently. Billie has a degree in Communication Research & Phonology, a PGCE in Primary Education, a Trinity College Cert & DiplomaTESOL and over 17 years of teaching experience. She also works as a CELTA teacher trainer, Cambridge examiner and educational advisor. Her videos have been featured in the Google funded AI app ELSA speak.
Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links. I am provided with compensation for purchases made through the above links at no cost to you. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by ELSA speak or other affiliates. My experience is my own, and your experience may be different. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Billie English possible!
#assimilation #phonology

[@BillieEnglish]

Do you want to improve your pronunciation? 👉 Try ELSA speak - the AI pronunciation coach app! Download the ELSA speak PRO app here: bit.ly/3vegNDx 💛 You will receive a 20% discount on the ELSA speak PRO 1-year pack, and an 80% discount on the ELSA speak PRO lifetime pack through my page 💛 Disclosure: This is an affiliate link and I may earn a commission at no cost to you.

[@Lydia.24_.]

Do make video on allophonic changes in assimilation

[@KATIKILER]

/v/ changes to /f/ when it's followed by a voiceless consonant like (have to) is this correct?

[@mmustafa3354]

Your method of teaching is outstanding.

[@othmanbouzidi6856]

I wish that i found your channel long before

[@Someone-gq5mv]

Tons of respect 🙏🏻

[@peterhills3962]

I love all of your videos. Keep them coming. They’re not for the beginners in learning English.

[@khh7831]

Excellent!!!❤❤❤

[@user-vw9sl5oo9n]

Thanks indeed for your explanation ...❤it is V useful .

[@johnlie8586]

Hi again, Billie, You slowly speaking is the most important assimilation!! Millions, thanks for you wonderful lesson,

[@DaHatBat]

Thank you for this video. This was very helpful!

[@aminanaityahia8065]

You're so much helping me with my phonetics 😍 you simplify so much❤

[@julicha7136]

I want to say a huge THANKS to you!! your videos are so clear and amazing.

[@hamidouvert]

You're certainly a best ever known teacher.. purposely, willfully and willingly You're explaining it ❤❤

[@joelmasamba6762]

I understand more from you my amazing teacher keep up the good work!!!!

[@sevinchmirzayeva4741]

Thank you so much

[@germano8182]

I'm addicted to your videos. So didatic for me as an english learner! The first rule "n before p,b,m" remembered me a gramatical rule in portuguese that we learn when we are kids: "before P and B, we only put M" (we don't have M and M together within words, so it's only before P and B). It seems clear that both rules exist for the same reason: phonetic sounds. But in portuguese the graphemes are quite similar with the phonemes, what doesn't happen in english. Thank you for your videos, they are helpping me a lot.

[@fatmaalshihi1178]

you are the best, you made it so easy and simple, many thanks.

[@tonamychakma6346]

Thank you, Billie, I learned a lot. You are amazing.❤️

[@univ41soukahras48]

thank you for this great work, we need a more examples

[@ramesh.varsha]

Thank you so much for making us more skilled in pronunciation.

[@salemahmed3122]

Thank you

[@EnglishBlackFriday]

Thank you for this class. It was amazing!

[@diagnembaye423]

Wonderful demo. Clear and useful. Thanks

[@diagnembaye423]

Good way to test ourselves about assimilation. Thanks

[@changehealthcaresolutions-8168]

I see that you are the best Teacher, I know, as a PRONUNCIATION COACH. You teach us how native speakers talk so we become able to understand them.

[@BillieEnglish]

Thank you! 😃

[@joelmasamba6762]

Oh my gosh!!! Thanks a lot about your great lesson my amazing teacher keep up the good work!!!! I'm learning more from you my amazing teacher

[@MohammedAli-ch2cz]

The way of your teaching is excellent. Thanks very much indeed.

[@ramzy-6566]

Great video for Assimilation. Thanks.

[@yassirhassan6746]

such a great explanation, thanks.

[@raishahid1861]

Mam you are Amazing

[@hamzabangash4956]

I was really confused when i red the example of handbag 👜, but you made it clear 🎉🎉🎉

[@ayubmuhammad534]

Plz guide about difference in progressive and retrogressive assimilation

[@barkamolgulomjonov930]

Thank you so much, was preparing for exam in phonetics, read the book ,but couldn't figure it out, it was very helpful I can say👍👍👍

[@sachinparihar7123]

Praise worthy effort

[@uzmaali4895]

You're my best teacher

[@AbulKasimTapadar-em5oc]

Such a good teacher,u r...

[@awasthidhaniram1237]

Very nice class. Thanks

[@ossital1808]

thanks for your hard work

[@saidfarid6382]

Hello Professor What you present is really interesting and amazing,i really appreciate your job. I wish you peace and happness under the sky of prosperity. All the best. Take care and have a good time. Your Student from Algeria.

[@Shri_12356]

She's so sweet 😍 😂 thanks for the video

[@DiOrnThaiinUSA]

Hello there. May I please use your ( th + s ) as an example of my video? Just that period of your video because there are not many Thai people who know about how native English speakers speak English in general. Thank you so much for the useful method of speaking. I have been following you for a while. Have a wonderful day.

[@aroundworldnews]

her teaching is relaxing

[@amirahamdy9433]

thank you! it is a very useful video

[@TheWriterWalker]

Fascinating and eye-opening! (Or maybe ear-opening. Lol!) Thank you for sharing this knowledge.

[@palomaruz3169]

Thank you so much for these videos! I'm starting my DIP TESOL in October and your explanations are so helpful! I'm sure I'll continue to watch more of your videos as the course progresses! 🤗🤗

[@BillieEnglish]

I hope you will enjoy the Dip TESOL course! 😊

[@learntofeel]

Back here for my phonetics I 2nd term exam I LOVE YOU thank you! you're wonderful and help me remember everything for the theory part. I got a 10 /10 last time. Thank you!

[@BillieEnglish]

Very happy to hear that! Thank you for the lovely comment! 😊

[@eviedawl]

Thank you for this❤

[@DiOrnThaiinUSA]

I would love to say thank you SO very much for your knowledge and time. I much appreciate you. I wish you were an American Accent specialist. Cuz I learn and speak American English. I’m m an rhotic speaker. But I have been studying the pronunciation for a while, and I understood your stuff pretty well. Thank you again. You explained it SO clearly. I love all of your videos. You’re the best. Thank you very very much.

[@BillieEnglish]

You are very welcome! Thank you for your kind words 💛

[@haili903]

I have seen several accent training, but yours are so professional and so well done! You did not only taught us about how, but also about why, that's a crucial part of learning. Thanks for your efforts

[@BillieEnglish]

Thank you! 😃

[@ameyamey504]

Thanks a lot ⭐🌟this was helpful

[@luckyfercohello]

Great video! I loved it. Could you explain what regressive assimilation is???

[@edveedvelos1561]

Top notch 📸 video

[@harrisonnjoroge5351]

For sure you are the Billie Eillish of Linguistics. Nothing but love ♥️👑

[@BillieEnglish]

Haha ... thank you! 😄

[@user-zd1um8dj9u]

GREAT WORK

[@MasambaKalaba-xo4oi]

Oh my goodness!!! You're our English Godesse which means that we gotta actually pray to you as our English savior, you have been juicing up our level about speaking English keep up the good work!!!

[@BillieEnglish]

Not sure about goddess, but I'd happily be your teacher :-)

[@name3583]

​@@BillieEnglishTeacher, can I ask a question about English?

[@nouraabdi4234]

Great video! Thaaank you soo much!

[@hopefulgirl4608]

I could get you more than our lecturer way to go ❤

[@linguist.829.]

Really like ur tuitions

[@mohmeegaik6686]

Billie English your channel opens up a new way of learning English by speaking the way English is spoken, quite different to written English. Thank you so much for your tutorial. I just subscribed. Your channel will certainly grow as the channel gains traction. Best wishes!!!

[@BillieEnglish]

Thank you so much for your kind comment Mohmee!

[@noraimahacmad8985]

thank you maam .

[@beti_writing]

Gracias Pato! 👍🏻

[@ElIndioMasPrieto]

I loved It 😎❤️

[@emanuelramos947]

Thanks so much!!!💖💖💖

[@manuelruiz6980]

Great 🎉🎉🎉

[@LuceTheStrange]

Useful 🙂

[@youstinas.daoud10]

Thank you Billie for all your amazing videos 💕💕

[@BillieEnglish]

You are so welcome! Thank you for watching :-)

[@believer7743]

I like how the lesson is detailed thanks, it is helpful

[@Flat_Earth_Addy]

its fake

[@jobayerahmed9516]

Lovely teaching from Bangladesh

[@BillieEnglish]

Thank you!

[@easy6english-lf7rj]

Teacher Billie.I just want to ask you a question .Does the assimilation heppen only in consonant sounds?What about vowel sounds.What do we called the linking process between them?❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@user-kk4vl2ky1g]

Hi Bellie i was wondering why didn't you provide the difference between progressive and Regressive assimilation

[@ricardobardales8137]

First of all, thank you for your didactic explanation. I noticed that in Upper RP accent is less frequent to see connection speech patterns like intrusive r and others, could you explain what is it?

[@dtquanghcm]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@r.barakat8758]

Many thanks for your fabulous lesson!!! But how about "Sandwich". Is it pronounced as "saMwich"? Am I right?

[@abusaeed276]

You are good from my boring professor.Thank yoi billie.

[@maryknighttttttttttttttttt]

Hi. I have a longer question for you. Is it possible for people to say (pipbul) When they pronounce pitbul, which is a case of regressive assimilation of place? Thank you for your answear.

[@mahdimohammadi9612]

Hi dear Billie, I couldn't find any clip on "Chunking"! Is it coming soon? Thanks indeed.

[@rakeshkumar-fp5zb]

Your method of teaching is absolutely nice. 🙏🙏

[@BillieEnglish]

Thanks a lot 💛

[@RadMilASMR]

Thank you for your video, such good labour! Liked and subscribed!

[@BillieEnglish]

Thanks for the sub! 😊

[@markgoestofrankfurt]

important to point out these are features of casual or informal rapid speech as spoken in the UK, esp. Estuary English SE England, and frowned upon as incorrect articulation for more controlled, careful, formal speech in more educated circles.

[@BillieEnglish]

Yes, very true! Thank you for adding that. Unfortunately, some ways of pronunciation still carry a certain association and connotation for people. As someone who's lived in Manchester for a long time, I don't mind if you speak.like that though! 😉

[@AnshikaMishra-nx4ik]

I am from Nepal and I really love your teaching method ma'am

[@Flat_Earth_Addy]

this video is fake

[@shyambaranwal727]

Hi Billie, I am Shyam from India. Assimilation beautifully explained.. Thanks so much for the post 👌👌👍🙏

[@BillieEnglish]

My pleasure 😊

[@maryknighttttttttttttttttt]

Hi. Is it tue that when there are two vowels next to each other - as in see again, people tend to insert a linking r here to join two vowels smootly?

[@homeseries7486]

I m from pakistan and i speak urdu but when i take lecture of u i understand better than urdu person lectures u are best teacher

[@nicknigel7168]

Thanks

[@shanmugasundaram1017]

Thanks very much for the video! By the way, what happens when 'English song' is said in rapid speech. Is it 'Engli shong' or 'Engli song'. or what? Thank you!

[@mithridatesi9981]

Does these assimilation patterns work with American English too ?

[@belajarmenjadimurid]

How do we know the two words are assimilation or not? Thanks for your information.

[@abigailnyantakyiwaa1960]

Thank you for this video. It's has been really helpful. Please can you assist me with the phonological processes that take place when saying ' prayer and more income'

[@BillieEnglish]

Hi Abigail! Have a look at this video on linking & intrusive R. You'll find the answer in there: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5jQdoGMfK6qaZo I hope this helps you!

[@Ali51231]

Do they use assimilation in formal language.

[@Shwjiqoqjwnbdbsiqo123]

I have a question. for the first example is there is assimilation between the v and s to make a ʃ sound

[@user-uv3kg8qh6b]

Thank you for helping me because I have an exame after two weeks

[@BillieEnglish]

All the best for your exam!

[@shyamolchakma2503]

I like your excellencies

[@ryoyaenglish]

Thank you for your instructive video. I'm a Japanese student, who majors in linguistics and studies English. I have a question about "have been". Can we apply an assimilation analysis to this words? Does the labio-dental "v" change to the bilabial "b"?

[@BillieEnglish]

Hello there! Thank you for your comment and question! I think it's possible for the v to change to be, but I think most of the time it'll still be there and you can actually feel it because the too teeth touch the bottom lip when forming the v sound. To really prove it you would have to record a bunch of people speak and then look at the sound signal. I hope this helps!

[@merlinamartorell5687]

Billie. I am cursing fonetics II in Argentina and I want to know what happens when /n/ is followed by (for example) /i/ as In "an interview: does that /n/ becomes some different sound?

[@BillieEnglish]

Oh I am sorry to hear you have such a hard time with phonetics ... don't curse it, I'll be happy to help: so, the /n/ from 'an' doesn't change into another sound, but it most likely links up with the following word. You might find my other video on 'catenation' useful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYKWZ2ykZd59l8k

[@sudhakarthandra7544]

Thanking you is not enough, Billie.

[@douglasmarinho3653]

I loved this lesson thank you so much! But the opposite S before TH can it happen the assimilation ass well? For example "he fights them" you can say "he fights sem*

[@BillieEnglish]

Yes, this could happen in fast speech!

[@IvanMontesino-qc4zz]

La Pronunciacion es Americana es la que nececito

[@enjyraafat4477]

That was great 👌❤❤❤ thank u❤❤❤ What about regressive and progressive Assimilation And place and manner of it I have an exam after tomorrow 🙃

[@BillieEnglish]

Im glad to hear it was helpful 💛🙏 In this video I give you only examples of regressive assimilation (also called anticipatory assimilation OR right-to-left assimilation). I discuss place & manner of articulation when, e.g. we look at the example 'in Barcelona' = /b/ is a voiced consonant formed with both lips closed, so /n/ in 'in' changes to /m/ because /m/ is also formed with both lips closed - unlike the sound /n/ where our lips are open. All the best for your exam!! 💝

[@enjyraafat4477]

@@BillieEnglish yeah you're right ❤❤👏 thank you for responding to my question ❤❤❤❤❤ All the best for u 2❤❤❤❤

[@ahmedfathy9099]

@@BillieEnglish progressive called anticipatory not regressive

[@mahmoudelnemr6988]

How do we pronounce th of that after is ?

[@uchechukwudivine9767]

Thanks so much Billie Please can you tell me what d before an unvoiced th changes to. E. G: That was a very bad thing you did

[@user-hj4vx4fj7j]

😍😍❤❤