Relaxed pronunciation
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Relaxed pronunciation (also called condensed pronunciation or word slurs) is a phenomenon that happens when the syllables of common words are slurred together. It is almost always present in normal speech, in all natural languages (not in some constructed languages such as Loglan or Lojban, which are designed so that all words are parsable).
Shortened forms of words and phrases (such as English contractions) can be considered to derive from relaxed pronunciations, but a phrase with a relaxed pronunciation is not the same as a contraction. In English, where contractions are common, they are considered part of the standard language and accordingly used in many contexts (except on very formal speech or in formal/legal writing); however, relaxed pronunciation is nonstandard and may sound uneducated. This is also sometimes reflected in writing: contractions have a standard written form, but relaxed pronunciations may not.
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English
Here is a list of a few common words said with relaxed pronunciation in English, along with the usual written form:
- alotta = a lot of
- coulda = could have
- didja = did you
- dunno = don't know
- fulla = full of
- gimme = give me
- gonna = going to
- hafta = have to
- izzy = is he
- kinda = kind of
- n'ku = thank you
- outta = out of
- 'sko = let us go
- 'sup = what is up
- wanna = want to
- wa-sat = what is that
- what'cha = what do you / what are you
- woulda = would have
- y'all = you all
- zit = is it
French
Among other relaxed pronunciations, tu as (you have) is frequently elided to t'as in colloquial French.
Spanish
Forms of the verb estar ("to be") are often shortened by dropping the first syllable (as if the verb was *tar).
- 'Tamos. ← Estamos. (lit. "We are", colloquial for "Yes", "OK", "All right".)
- Acá ta. ← Acá está. ("Here it is", joking tone or baby-talk)
The preposition para ("for", "in order to") can be shortened to pa' (this sounds uneducated in most dialects):
- Pa' servirlo. (lit. "To serve you", i. e. "At your service".)
- No es pa' cualquiera. ("It is not for anyone.")
The preposition de ("of") also tends to get shortened to e when the previous word ends in a vowel.
In many dialects, the very common phrase voy a + infinitive ("I'm going to..."), which shows the immediate future tense, is shortened: some people pronounce vua /bwa/, others via /bja/. This is quite common but also considered uneducated.
External links
- Complete list of words said with Relaxed Pronunciation - also includes contractions (http://www.davidtulga.com/contractions.htm)