British English Pronunciation Workshop

English Pronunciation Workshop. 

The gemination of /t/

Tim Hi. I'm Tim and this is my Pronunciation workshop. Here I'm going to show you how English is really spoken. Come on, let's go inside. This week, I'm going to need some help from my favourite twin. Please welcome back Tom, who's going to help me present. Hi Tom!

Tom Hi Tim! Now, are you a lover?

Tim Or a fighter? Do you prefer to dance?

Tom Or would you rather have an argument?

Tim There's an expression we have in English that contains the name of a dance …

Tom … and means when two people get involved in a fight or argument, then in most cases both have to take some of the responsibility. Do you know the expression?

Tim Well, let's ask the people of London.

Voxpops

It takes two to tango.

It takes two to tango.

It takes two to tango.

It takes two to tango. 

Tim and Tom It takes two to tango.

Tom Lot of 't's in that, Tim.

Tim Lot of 't's indeed, Tom. Five in fact. It takes two to Tango. But are all of these usually pronounced? Can you hear all of them? Listen again.

Voxpops It takes two to tango.

It takes two to tango.

It takes two to tango.

It takes two to tango.

Tim You might remember from a previous video that when the sound /t/ comes in between two consonants, we don't usually pronounce it.

Tom

But what happens if there is a vowel sound before the /t/? And the next word also begins with /t/?

Tim

Well, in this case, the two /t/ sounds join together to create one slightly stronger /t/.

So 'it takes two' becomes 'it takes two' This is an example of twinning or gemination.

Here are some more examples.

Examples It took him twenty years to get to the top.

You don't have to cheat to pass the test.

You were right to be upset.

We took the overnight train to Venice.

Tim

Right, so you've heard the examples, and now it's your turn. You know the drill. Listen and repeat. 

Examples It took him twenty years to get to the top.

You don't have to cheat to pass the test.

You were right to be upset.

We took the overnight train to Venice.

Tim Well done. Now remember, if you want to learn more, Visit at EngineerMohsinAli.blogspot.com

Tom Ah. No problem, you're the best Tim.

Tim Hey, thanks, you're great too. Ah! That was weird! What was that all about?

Tom Hey, you started it.

Tim No I didn't.

Tom Yes you did.

Tim Well, maybe a little bit. I guess that just goes to prove it takes two to tango.

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