LIAISON
Definition: Liaison is the pronunciation of a normally silent final consonant sound when the following word begins with a vowel sound. Liaison occurs only between words which are grammatically linked and which are pronounced together without pausing.
Liaisons to be observed:
1. Noun phrase
Determiner (+ prenominal adjectives) + noun (or indefinite pronoun)
les_enfants, deux_amis, un ancien_ami, leurs_anciens_amis, de vrais_anciens documents, les_autres
2. Verb phrase
verbs and personal pronouns (in any combination)
vous_allez, ont_ils, vous_y allez, donnez_en
3. Prepositional and adverbial phrases
monosyllabic preposition + noun phrase
dans_un an, sans_amis, chez_eux
monosyllabic adverb + ...
plus_uni, trop_aimable, pas_utile, tout_entier, pas_encore, trop_à faire
4. Fixed expressions (illustrative list only)
rien_à faire, un fait_accompli, comment-allez-vous
5. Present tense forms of être: je suis, il est, ils sont, c'est, ce sont, il est (impersonal) + ...
je suis_intelligent, c'est_elle, ce sont_eux, il est_ulile de...,
6. -ont third person plural: font, ont, sont, vont +...
ils font_un bridge, ils vont_en Espagne
References:
André Malécot. Introduction à la phonétique française. The Hague and Paris: Mouton, 1977. Pp. 32-37.
Albert Valdman. Introduction to French Phonology and Morphology. Rowley, Mass: Newberry House, 1976. Pp. 106-107.
Created September 7, 1998
