Loss of Aspiration

English voiceless plosive consonants [p, t, k] are pronounced without aspiration in the position after fricative [s].

Eg.: spider, stone, sky

5. Combinations of plosive and fricative consonants

When a plosive consonant precedes a fricative consonant within a word or at a syllable or word boundary (juncture) it has its release during the pronunciation of the fricative. This phenomenon is the result of close co-articulation of adjacent consonants in English and is called fricative plosion (release):

e. g.: let's, what's, kinds, upside, stops, walks.

6. Alveolar consonants before [θ, ð]

At the juncture of the alveolar consonants [t, d, n, 1, s, z] and the interdental consonants [θ, ð] regressive assimilation affecting the place of articulation is observed: the alveolar consonants are represented by their dental variants (allophones).

Eg.: ninth, sixteenth, about the text.

7. Combinations of consonants with [w]

Consonants preceding [w], especially in a stressed syllable, are lip-rounded (labialized), i.e. regressive assimilation affecting the position of lips takes place.

Eg.: twist, quarter, switch, dweller.

When the sonorant [w] is preceded by a voiceless consonant there is also some devoicing of the sonorant (progressive assimilation effecting the work of the vocal cords). The devoicing is especially strong after [t, k] in a stressed syllable and is weaker in unstressed syllables and at a syllable or word boundary. Thus in the clusters [tw, kw, sw] double (reciprocal) assimilation takes place.

Eg.: twenty, quiet, sweet

8. Linking [r]

When a word ending in [ə] (including [Iə], [еə], etc.), [ɑ:], [ɔ:] or [з:] is immediately followed by a word beginning with a vowel, the sound [r] is very often inserted at the end of the first word joining it to the next one.

When the spelling of the word ends in the letter "r" (or "-re"), the inserted г-sound is called the linking [r]. When there is no "r" in spelling, the inserted r-sound is called the intrusive [r] (e.g., the idea [r] of it).

Learners of English are generally not recommended to use the intrusive [r], while the linking [r] is recognized as a typical feature of the English Standard pronunciation. Notice, however, the absence of linking [r] in such "inconvenient" word sequences as 'a roar of laughter', 'an error of judgment'.

9. CONSONANT CLUSTERS WITH [r]

Combinations of voiceless consonants with [r] - [tr, pr, kr, str, skr, θr, fr, sr]

In the clusters of voiceless consonants with the sonorant [r] complete or partial devoicing of the sonorant takes place — progressive assimilation affecting the work of the vocal cords.

The sound [r] is completely or almost completely devoiced when it is preceded by a voiceless plosive consonant [p, t, or k] in a stressed syllable: train, pride, cry.

In an unstressed position, at a word boundary or when [p, t, k] are preceded by [s] or some other fricative consonant the devoicing of [r] is partial: waitress, temperature, spread, quite right.

A similar effect (of partial devoicing) both in stressed and unstressed syllables is produced when [r] is preceded by a fricative consonant: friend, Geoffrey, shrewd, three, fruit.

Combinations of alveolar and inter-dental consonants with [r] – [ tr, dr, \\ θr, ðr]

In some of these clusters assimilation affecting the place and the manner of articulation can be observed. Thus under the influence of the post-alveolar [r] the alveolar consonants [t, d] in the clusters |tr, dr| become post-alveolar. The clusters [tr, dr] are actually characterized by double (reciprocal) assimilation since the sonorant [r] is modified as well: under the influence of the noise consonants [t, d] it becomes fricative, and after |t|, as was mentioned above, it is also devoiced.