Did you catch that?

If you did not grow up in the United States, chances are that there are some strange pronunciation rules about American English that you didn't learn in your native country. So, when you got here, you heard people speaking and couldn't catch the meaning of some sentences. At first you thought it was strange, but after time, you saw some patterns in some of the everyday expressions. For example, when someone asked "What's your name?", did it sometimes sound like "Whatcher name?" Instead of the "ts + y" sound, it changed to "ch" sound. Have you noticed that? Look at a few more examples and then I will introduce some other patterns.

1. /t/ + /u/ = "ch"
Examples: Can I "getchu" something?  "Cantchu" do it?" "Whatchu" want? I'll "letchu" know. "Haventchu" done it yet? I "betchu" he won't come. 

This pattern also happens in words that have a t+u spelling:
Examples: actually "actchually"; virtual "virtchual"; natural "natchural".

2. /z/ + /j/ = "zh" (the word "your" becomes "zhur")
Examples: Who "doezhur" nails? "Whenzhur" birthday?
"Whenzhur" birthday? "Whozhur" doctor?

This pattern also happens in words that have an s + u spelling:
Examples: casual "cazhual"; usual "uzhual"; version "verzhion".

3. /s/ + /j/ = "sh" (you becomes "shu")
Examples: "Yeshu" can. "Bleshu". 

This pattern also happens in words that have sur spelling:
Examples: insurance "inshurance"; sure "shure".

4. /d/ + /j/ = "ja"
Examples: "Didja" like it? "Couldja" come here? You tried "jer" best. "Congrajalations".

This pattern also happens in words that have d + i or d + u spellings:
Examples: individual "indivijual"; gradual "grajual"; educate "ejucate".

I hope this helps in your speaking and listening. For more on my classes and private lessons, please go to http://english4professionals.webs.com