What term describes the smooth linking of words in connected speech?

What term describes the smooth linking of words in connected speech?

• A. Deixis
• B. Word boundary
• C. Liason
• D. Semantic Prosody

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how speech flows smoothly across word boundaries. This smooth linking of sounds is called liaison. It describes when the ending sound of one word is carried over or a connecting sound is added so the next word, especially when it starts with a vowel, blends seamlessly. This makes spoken language sound fluent rather than choppy. A classic example you might hear in languages that use liaison is the way words connect across a boundary to avoid a hard pause, producing a continuous rhythm in speech. In English, you’ll notice similar linking patterns in rapid, natural speech, where sounds bridge from one word to the next to keep the flow. The term for this linking across words is liaison, and it’s the best description of the phenomenon.