Linguistic reduction facts for kids
When we speak English, we often shorten words or phrases. This is called linguistic reduction. It's like taking a shortcut with sounds! For example, "going to" often becomes "gonna" when people talk fast.
One common type of reduction is a contraction. This is when two words are squeezed together. Think of "cannot" becoming "can't". Or "He is" becoming "He's". These are all natural ways we speak.
Linguistic reductions are not slang. They are a normal part of how English is spoken every day. You might hear them all the time without even noticing!
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How Words Get Shorter
There are a few main ways words get shorter when we speak:
Missing Sounds (Elision)
Sometimes, one or more sounds are left out of a word. This is called elision.
- A common example is the word "and". It often changes to "an" or even just "n" when people speak quickly.
- Another example is "probably". Many people say "probly", leaving out the "ba" sound.
Changing Word Stress
In English, some words in a sentence are stressed more than others. When a word has less stress, it might get shorter or blend with other words.
- The words around it get more emphasis.
- The less stressed word might be blended, linked, or even disappear.
Shortening Small Words (Function Words)
Some words are called Function words. These are small words that help sentences make sense, like "the," "a," "is," or "to." They connect ideas.
- Function words usually don't carry much meaning on their own.
- They are often not stressed when we speak.
- Because they are unstressed, they can be reduced, blended, linked, or even left out.
Contractions
Contractions are a very common type of reduction. This is when two words are combined into one shorter word.
- Many contractions involve the word "not," like "cannot" becoming "can't."
- Others combine a subject and a verb, such as "He is" becoming "He's."
- You might also hear "going to" become "gonna" or "want to" become "wanna." These are also types of contractions that happen in spoken English.
