Pronouncing /d/ versus /t/ (e.g. word Fifty)

[Van Khanh]

Hi,

Some people ,instead of pronouncing /t/, pronounce /d/, as in:

later (adv): Instead of saying /leit../, some say /leid../
Fifty: Instead of saying /fifti/, some say /fifdi/.

Do you think it is positive or negative?

Thanks.
K

[Alan]

Hi,

I don't think negativity or positivity come into it. It is merely a question of enunciation and how much clarity you give to the letter 't'. This is similar to making putting rhyme with pudding.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Party Conferences

[Jamie (K)]

It is a feature of North American English that a /t/ between two vowels is pronounced as an alveolar tap (like a very quick [d]) when the first vowel is stressed and the second one isn't.

As Alan points out, this is not a positive or negative phenomenon, but is just part of the reality of regional variation. This pronunciation is standard in North America, and not in England.

[Torsten]

Please activate Javascript and Adobe Flash for view MP3 player

15 views

Download mp3	Click to listen

Here is my attempt at pronouncing fifty the British as well as the American way....
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary