When native English speakers speak naturally, there are a few small things that might change the way a word is pronounced. This happens because we want to make the words easier to say. You will see examples of how we join words, soften words, change letters and sometimes even ignore a letter.  

 

If you can learn to hear this changes you will see it is much easier to understand native English speakers. If you can learn to make the changes yourself, you will see it is much easier to speak naturally and you may be able to reduce your accent. 

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Weakening - softening sounds

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Catenation - joining words

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Assimilation - changing sounds

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Elision - removing a sound

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Intrusion - adding a sound