Stop sounds, the most common type of blocked consonant, are most aspirated at the beginning of a word and the least aspirated at the end of a word. This means that the "puff" of air that can be felt during the release of a blocked consonant is must greater when that type of sounds begins a word than when the same sound ends a word. This difference is important when practicing linking to and from stops.

 
 

To link from a vowel sound into a blocked consonant, the vowel sound continues until the the "stopped" portion of the consonant forces a break. To link from blocked consonants into vowels, the puff of the consonant sound blends into the vowel sound that begins the next word.

Compare:

Compare the phrase 'my car' with 'Mike are.' The /k/ in 'my car' is more aspirated than the /k/ in 'Mike are.'

my‿car: My‿car is over there.

Mike‿are: Sharon and Mike‿are over there.

Practice linking a vowel into a blocked consonant:

1. many‿people: I can't believe how many‿people are sick right now.

2. you‿consider: Would you‿consider it?

3. they‿brought: They‿brought their daughter along.

4. agree‿to: Will they agree‿to those guidelines?

5. follow‿children: The study will follow‿children at risk of diabetes.

Practice linking a blocked consonant into a vowel:

1. good‿evening: Are you having a good‿evening?

2. bad‿impression: Unfortunately, he left a bad‿impression.

3. seemed‿impossible: It seemed‿impossible to meet the deadline.

4. made‿up: Kevin already made‿up his mind.

5. take‿advantage: You should take‿advantage of the offer.