La Liaison
Colin
the 's' before a vowel. For example most ppl say "pas encore" but some say
"pas_encore", most say "deux_euros" and "trois_euros" but one girl I met
always said "deux euros" and "trois euros"
Also on my Learn French cassettes they pronounce the s just about always
for example "... mais_apres ..." which makes me wonder if you should
pronounce the s much more than what is done in practice.
Is this perhaps a regional thing ? I was living in the alps for much of my
time in France and there was quite a mix of people from all over the
country living there.
Thanks
COlin
mamar
In "good" French you have to do the liaison but in the current spoken
language it is more or less skiped moreover it is true that also depends on
the areas.
--
Environ dix personnes pouvaient comprendre Einstein.
Personne ne me comprend, suis-je un génie?
Phine
What the books say:
You must pronounce the last consonant of an adjective, article or pronoun
(les amis, un petit homme, ils ont) before a vowel.
You can (but you don't need to) do the liaison after verbs, conjonctions and
adverbs (such as mais, après, depuis, pas)
As for "euros", many French don't know if they must write "cent" or "vingt"
with an "s" or not, so they prefer not to do the liaison...
For instance, you'll say: 800 zeuros, but 100 teuros, 420 teuros, but 480
zeuros...
Phine
zheureuse!
Phine
I've found something that could be interesting:
Liaison Linguistics - French Pronunciation
The pronunciation of liaisons is based on various linguistic and stylistic
factors.
Lexicology
In order for a liaison to be possible, it must end in a latent consonant. A
latent consonant is simply a final consonant that is normally silent (as in
petit), but that can liaise with the word that follows it (petit ami). Not
all consonants are latent; for example, the t at the end of et is a silent
rather than latent consonant, and is thus never liaised.
Phonetics
Liaisons can only occur between a word that ends in a latent consonant and
one that begins with a vowel or mute h. When a non-latent (i.e., normally
pronounced) consonant is followed by a vowel or mute h, the transfer of the
consonant to the word that follows it is called enchaînement.
Syntax
Liaisons occur between syntactically-related words. That is, they occur
within nominal, verbal, and prepositional groups, but not between these
groups. The following chart has a few examples, but is certainly nowhere
near comprehensive (see liaison lesson for more detailed information).
Liaison No liaison
Adjective, number, or article + noun (nominal group) Adjective or number +
other kind of word
beaux enfants [bo za(n) fa(n)] Ils sont beaux à minuit [bo a]
un homme [uh(n) nuhm] Les livres sont bons ici [bo(n) ee see]
les amis [lay za mee] Donnez-en deux à Paul. [deu a]
Pronoun + conjugated verb (verbal group) Pronoun + other kind of word
Vous avez [vu zavay] Mettez-les ici [lay ee see]
Ont-ils [o(n) teel] Ceux avec qui je parle... [seu a vek]
In addition, the pronunciation of some liaisons helps to contrast similar
phrases.
Ils sont vs Ils ont être vs avoir (auxiliary verbs) Grammatical contrast
Ils sautent vs Ils ôtent different verbs Semantic contrast
Ils s'amusent vs Ils amusent pronominal vs active voice Voice contrast
Style
French pronunciation
In general, the more liaisons that are pronounced, the higher register that
is being spoken. In extremely refined language, such as the reading of
poetry, every possible liaison is pronounced. In business French, not quite
so many. In conversational French, a few are pronounced, while in street
French, very few or no optional liaisons are pronounced.
Note, however, that no matter how low a register you wish to speak in, you
cannot avoid pronouncing required liaisons. Likewise, no matter how refined
the register, forbidden liaisons cannot be pronounced. In either case, the
only ones that you have a choice about are optional liaisons.
-----------
Phine
Phine
http://french.about.com/library/pronunciation/bl-liaisons-L.htm
Sorry about that!
Phine
John of Aix
"Colin" <non...@yourbusiness.com> a écrit dans le message de news:
01c45f22$b8e293c0$8b5a65da@hp-customer...
> I've noticed that different people have different rules about pronouncing
> the 's' before a vowel. For example most ppl say "pas encore" but some
say
> "pas_encore", most say "deux_euros" and "trois_euros" but one girl I met
> always said "deux euros" and "trois euros"
> Is this perhaps a regional thing ? I was living in the alps for much of my
> time in France and there was quite a mix of people from all over the
> country living there.
Well I think it must be? Here in Provence poeple generally say deux_euros
but most don't say mais_encore. I had alwyas been told that the liaison was
for purely paractical pronunciation reasons and so is very much 'au pif'.
Schorschi
Ï "Phine" <ph...@home.net> Ýãñáøå óôï ìÞíõìá
news:cc1app$4gt$1...@news.tiscali.fr...
It is rather interesting, however it is not entirely consistent. For
example according to the site one says "commant_allez-vous" but "comment
est-il" (liaison only in the first example. I am pretty sure though that
I've heard the "comment_est-il" version.... but then again I might be wrong.
And a question (please native speakers help) I still cannot tell apart plus
from plus_ (w. and w/o liaison). As far as I can remember it is not the
same meaning, or is it?
Cheers
Schorschi
Luc Hermitte
news:cc2225$ns$1...@news.uni-kl.de:
> It is rather interesting, however it is not entirely consistent. For
> example according to the site one says "comment_allez-vous" but
> "comment est-il" (liaison only in the first example. I am pretty sure
> though that I've heard the "comment_est-il" version....
The second version does not sound very well to my ears.
However I can not explain why.
> I still cannot tell apart plus from plus_ (w. and w/o liaison). As
> far as I can remember it is not the same meaning, or is it?
This one depends. I think that "pluS" is used for "more" (quantity, not
quality), while plu// is used for "no more". Then, comes the liaison that
changes the "s" into a "z", liaison that I believe obligatory when we
mean "more".
=>
- J'en veux pluS -> I do want (some ?) more
- Il est plu// beau ((context) que...) -> he is cutier ...
However, we can hear "pluS" which is a slang (?) humoristic emphasis
put on the "plus"
- Il est plu// beau comme avant
<=> "Il n'est plus beau, avant il l'était"
No 'S' sonority. Never.
- J'en veux plu// (written "plus" of course) <=> "Je _n_'en veux plus"
-> I do not want any more of (I don't feel very inspired for
the translation)
"Je _n_'en veux pluS" is incorrect.
Regarding the liaison:
- plus_un (pluz' un) (Z sound, not S): it depends.
It could be "one more" or "no more".
However, "one more" can not be pronounced "plu// un", while we can
say "Il n'y en a plus(_)un seul. PLUS 0 UN, je vous dit!"
With no liaison in the second part ; there could be one in the first.
With a slighty different meaning, it it the same thing (regarding
liaison) with "pas" instead on "plus".
--
Luc Hermitte
Philip Baker
<non...@yourbusiness.com> writes
Fouché's Traité de Prononciation Française, 1969 edition, has 46 pages
on liaison.
--
Philip Baker
http://textual.net/link.to/amazon/french.pronunciation