How Do You Link English Sounds Properly?

The main thing to remember is that English is usually spoken without pauses between words, so you should practise speaking whole sentences fluently, as if they were one long word. In more detail: Vowels (aeiou sounds) link to consonants and vice versa. This means that a phrase like "pick up" will be prounounced PICKUP - like one word. To link words ending and beginning with vowels, people automatically use little extra sounds - for instance "Go out" sounds like "GOWOUT." The little "w" sound helps the words to link and flow.

It's also helpful to remember that sounds often change through linking; for example "get out" sounds like GEDOUT when spoken quickly.

For more information on word linking, you should probably get a book and CD on pronunciation - "English Pronunciation in Use" is a good example. Or you could try this website - click here and go to Lesson 7.