la aspiradora - pronunciation

Question

la aspiradora

When I listen to Antonio say this, the la and the word seem to sound like one word and sounds like laspiradora.

Is that the way I should pronounce it? Or should I try to say the la separately?

Rachel

Answer 1

Laspiradora is exactly how it should be pronounced. This is called elision. It occurs in Spanish whenever a word ending with a vowel is followed by another word that starts with the same vowel.

• excelente respuesta web:) - Heidita Sep 13, 2009
• Also called 'encadenamiento' the chaining of the separate words together. - Charlius Sep 13, 2009

Answer 2

In my experience, there is no language in which words are normally pronounced in isolation. People speak in phrases (breath groups) not words and, as a result, run words together (within the phrase).

This may actually be worse in English. For instance, "what are you" is perhaps the most butchered phrase of all. When I am speaking, I may say "wuhyuh" (said very quickly, and I'm amazed anybody understands it, but they do)...or "whatchya" (typical southern US fare).

Consider the sentence, "What are you trying to do?"

I would say, "Wuh-yuh tryin'(d)a-do?"

Sometimes the "t" in "to" almost makes it into a d sound...sometimes it doesn't make it at all. I just recently started analyzing my around-the-house speech. I'm astounded at how fast and slurred it is. Even more amazing is that people understand it.

In many situations, I purposely slow my speech down and speak more evenly (I'm a telephone customer service operator...gotta be understood).

Answer 3

In my experience, there is no language in which words are normally pronounced in isolation. People speak in phrases (breath groups) not words and, as a result, run words together (within the phrase).