Stress, Reduction and Linking – part 2

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How to pronounce the word ARE

The word 'are' can be reduced simply to the schwa/R sound, er, er, er. So in this sentence, What are you doing?, you may very well hear whater, whater, whater you doing? Whater you doing? With the er very low in pitch and very fast. What are you doing? What are, what are, it sounds like the word 'butter'. Butter, what are, what are you doing?

Let's look at a few more sentences where the word 'are' can be reduced. My cousins are coming tomorrow. My cousins are, my cousins are, My cousins are coming tomorrow. My cousins are coming tomorrow. The cookies are good. The cookies are, are, the cookies are good. Where are the girls? Now here the word before ends in the schwa/R sound, er, where er the girls? I would explain it as a re-emphasizing of the er sound: Where er the girls? But in fast speech, it actually all blends together. Where are the girls? Where are the girls? So it sounds like the word ARE is being dropped. Where are the girls? - See more at: http://www.rachelsenglish.com/videos/word-are#sthash.80P4TZV4.dpuf

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