Liaison & Variation

• Many French words end in a written but, in many contexts, unpronounced context
  • e.g. trop /tro/; champ /ʃɑ̃/, sujet /syʒe/, mur /myir/.
  • In some words the final consonant is always pronounced in all positions
    • cap, sac, vif, sens, peril, amer, finir, avoir
  • In other words there are two forms
    • Form without a pronounced final consonant is used before another consonant or a pause
    • Form with a pronounced final consonant is used in some or all contexts when word is followed by a vowel without a pause
• This is known as liaison
  • Liaison must be distinguished form enchaînement
    • Enchaînement applies to final consonants that are pronounced in any event
    • e.g. grande [grɑ̃d] – un grand ami [œ̃ grɑ̃ dami] v un grand cheval [œ̃ grɑ̃ ʃəvɑl] – une grande amie [yn grɑ̃ dami] v une grande maison [yn grɑ̃d mɛzɔ̃]
    • From a practical point of view, the consonant in each case is attached to the following vowel – there is slightly less tension in the consonant in enchaînement than there is in liaison
• Liaison can be (according to Delatte):
  • Compulsory
  • Optional
  • Forbidden
• Encrevé classifies liaison as
  • Invariable (i.e. circumstances in which liaison is either compulsory or proscribed)
  • Variable
  • Erratic
• Granville Price classifies liaison as
  • Compulsory
  • Usual, except in familiar speech
  • Not normal or totally impossible
• The circumstances in which liaison is either compulsory or forbidden are clearly defined
  • Compulsory
    • Determiner + noun/pronoun/adjective
    • Personal pronoun + verb
    • Invariable monosyllables – dont, tout, très, fort, plus, moins, est, sont, rien, dans, dès, en, sans, quand
  • Forbidden
    • Singular noun + following adjective
    • Et + anything
    • Before H aspiré
    • Noun subject + verb
    • Verb (except avoir/être) and any following element
    • Anything + un/huit/onze
• In all other cases it is optional and the use or non-use depends on:-
  • The degree of formality
    • There is a greater tendency to make optional liaison in higher registers
    • Even in familiar conversation a person may not consistently effect liaison
  • Age
    • Older people tend to effect liaison more than younger people
  • Social class
    • Lower classes tend to effect optional liaison less
    • Lower classes also tend
      • not to effect liaison when it is compulsory
      • to make fausse liaison by the introductions of cuirs (intrusive ‘t’) and velours.