Glued sounds, also known as welded sounds, are not considered one sound, but rather a combination of two or more individual sounds. When these sounds are brought together, they create a slightly different sound than what would be expected from each individual sound.
In the English language, there are several examples of glued sounds. For instance, the combination of “sh” in words like “she” or “ship” creates a sound that is different from the individual sounds of “s” and “h”. Similarly, the combination of “ch” in words like “cheese” or “church” produces a unique sound that is different from the individual sounds of “c” and “h”.
These glued sounds can be a bit tricky for learners of English, as they may not follow the regular phonetic rules. Instead, they require memorization and practice to correctly pronounce them.
One personal experience I had with glued sounds was when I was learning English as a second language. I remember struggling to pronounce words like “ship” or “chocolate” correctly because I would pronounce them as separate sounds instead of the glued sounds they actually are. It took some time and practice to train my mouth and tongue to produce the correct sounds.
To understand why these glued sounds exist, it can be helpful to consider the phonetic properties of the individual sounds involved. In some cases, the sounds may merge together due to their place or manner of articulation. For example, both “s” and “h” are produced with a similar airflow and tongue position, which is why they can be easily combined to create the “sh” sound.
It’s important to note that not all combinations of sounds result in glued sounds. Some combinations simply retain the individual sounds without any modification. For example, the combination of “b” and “l” in words like “blue” or “blend” does not create a new sound, but rather retains the separate sounds of “b” and “l”.
Glued sounds are not considered one sound, but rather a combination of individual sounds that create a slightly different sound when brought together. They require practice and memorization to correctly pronounce, as they may not follow regular phonetic rules. Understanding the phonetic properties of the individual sounds involved can help shed light on why certain combinations result in glued sounds.