connected speech

A term used in LINGUISTICS to refer to spoken language when analyzed as a continuous sequence, as in normal UTTERANCES and conversations. Its significance lies in the contrast implied with studies of linguistic UNITS seen in isolation, such as an individual sound, WORD or PHRASE, which were the subject-matter of much traditional linguistic enquiry. It is now realized that important changes happen to these units when they are used in connected speech, as demonstrated by such processes as ASSIMILATION and ELISION, e.g. and becoming /n/ in such phrases as boys and girls.