In this American English Pronunciation video, we’re going to go over the pronunciation
of the phrase “I appreciate it.” We’ll talk about linking words in a sentence: vowel
to vowel and with a Flap T.
Thanks for requesting this phrase. Not only is it a polite way to thank somebody, but
it gives us the chance to study two kinds of linking, vowel to vowel, and linking with
a Flap T.
In American English, it’s important that your words link together in one thought group.
This forward flow is part of the character of American English.
I appreciate it. The first link is between the words ‘I’ and ‘appreciate’. This
is a vowel to vowel link, which also includes diphthongs. We’re linking the AI diphthong
with the schwa. Often in a vowel to vowel link, we make a glide consonant sound. That
is true here. When the first sound is the AI diphthong, we make a Y sound as we connect
to another vowel. So think of ‘appreciate’ being ‘yappreciate’, with a Y.
I-yappreciate [3x]
Focus on the Y sound if your tendency is to put a little break between each word.
It will really smooth out your speech.
The next link is a consonant to vowel link. We have a final T sound linking into the IH
as in SIT vowel. When we link these two words together, what do you notice? The T comes
between two vowel sounds. That means it’s a Flap T, where the tongue flaps against the
roof of the mouth without stopping the air. Appreciate it, dit, dit, appreciate it. We’ll
see that when we watch up close and in slow motion.
So to answer the question, “How can I say this as fluently as Americans?”, focus on
the linking and the stress. –Pre- is the most stressed syllable, so it should be the
clearest and have the up-down intonation, -pre-, -pre-. “I” can also have a little
of this: I appreciate it. [3x]
Now let’s watch up close and in slow motion and talk about the sounds.
The jaw drops for the first sound of the AI as in BUY diphthong. Then we quickly go through
the second sound, the Y glide, and the schwa on the way to the P sound. Yuh. I-yuh. I-yuh.
Lips come together for the P, and open into the R sound. The lips flare, and you can’t
see the tongue because the tip is pulled back and up, pr, pr. I appr-. The tongue tip comes
more forward for the EE vowel. Remember, this is the stressed syllable. I appre-. The letter
C makes the SH sound, sh. The teeth come together and the lips flare.
Now we have three unstressed syllables in a row. The EE vowel quickly before the jaw
drops for the AY as in SAY diphthong. Now, watch how the tongue flaps against the roof
of the mouth for the Flap T. To the roof of the mouth and down again for the IH as in
SIT vowel. Watch the flap one more time.
And a stop of air for the Stop T. Appreciate it. Let’s watch the whole phrase again.
You can use this phrase while thanking someone, for example: “Thanks so much for coming
to my presentation. I appreciate it.” Or, “Thanks for doing the dishes. I really appreciate
it.”
>> HaQuyen, thanks so much for coming in today, I really appreciate it.
I hope this video has made this phrase easier for you to say. Think about linking often
as you work on spoken English.
Also, I’m happy to tell you my book, American English Pronunciation, is available for purchase.
If you want an organized, step-by-step resource to build your American accent, click here
to get the book, or see the description below. I think you’re going to love it.
That’s it, and thanks so much for using Rachel’s English.