Today's tip is on sound linking. （輔音連續）

When two identical or similar consonants are in a row, most sounds are not pronounced. 當兩個相同或相似的輔音在一起，很多音都不發音。

For example, stop Peter. “stop” ends in the sound “p”, and “Peter” begins in the same sound. 比如說， stop Peter. “stop” 以 “p”這個音結尾， “Peter” 是以同樣的音開頭。

Together the words are linked as “sto-peter”. 這兩個單詞連起來就是“sto-peter”。

The words aren't pronounced “stop Peter”. 這兩個單詞不是 “stop Peter” 這樣發音。

To pronounce two identical sounds one after another, it would sound like someone stuttering. 一個個地發這兩個相似的音，聽說起來就像那個人有口吃。

English words are always linked smoothly. 英語單詞總是連得很流暢。

Similar but not identical sounds such as voiced and voiceless pairs of consonants are also linked in this way. 相似但不相同的音如發音與不發音的一對輔音總是會這樣連音。

For example, it's a big cake. “big” begins in the sound “g”, cake begins with the sound “k”. 比如說，這是一個大蛋糕。“big” 是以 “g” 這個音開始的， “cake” 這個音則是以 “k” 這個音開始的。

“k” and “g” differ only in that “k” is voiceless and “g” is voiced. “k” 和 “g” 的不同在于 “k” 是不發音的， “g” 是發音的。

When they are next to each other in a phrase, they're linked smoothly by not aspirating or pronouncing fully the first of the 2 sounds. 當他們在短語緊跟著，他們順暢地連接不需要送氣發音或完全地發出這兩個音的第一個音。

Listen carefully as I read the example again. 當我再讀一次這個例子的時候，仔細地聽下。

It's a big cake. Notice how the first sound “g” is not released.
It's a big cake.注意下第一個音 “g” 是如何不發出來的。

If the pair of sounds is reversed, like in “I like goats.”it is the “k” sound which is not pronounced. 如果這對音顛倒下，就像在“I like goats.”里面， “k” 這個音是不發音的。

Listen closely. I like goats. 仔細聽下。I like goats.

There're 8 pairs of consonants that differ only in the presence or lack of vocal cord vibration. 下面有八對輔音，它們的區別就在于聲帶是否振動。

Listen as I give one example of sound linking for each pair. 聽下每組連音的的例子。

I love France.
Let's bathe three times.
She is Susan.
The garage should be cleaned.
He has a huge chin.
Put the cap back on. Dad told me.
I like Gavin.

It is important to include this type of sound linking in your speech if you want to achieve fluency. 如果你想達到口語流利的話，在口語中應用這種連讀是很重要的。

It is also important to be aware of how this linking affects how spoken English sounds. 同樣重要的是要清楚這種連音是如何影響英語口語的發音。

Otherwise you may not understand native speaker's speech. 否則的話，你可能會聽不懂說英語為母語的人的話。

This has been today's daily tip. Tune in tomorrow for another on learning English.

這就是今天的小貼士。