Posted by John on Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 5:24pm.
1. I can swim very well.
2. I can't swim very well.
How can we distinguish 'can' from 'can't'? How do we pronounce 'can'?
Responses
English - Ms. Sue, Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 5:35pm
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We can usually distinguish between can and can't because we emphasize CAN'T, making sure we pronounce the "t."
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Thank you for your help.
3. I can do it.
4. I can't do it.
I know that the t sound in 'can't' is dropped in normal speech. Then how do we distinguish #3 and #4?
It's harder to distinguish "can't do" since the "t" and "d" are so close.
The context of these sentences is important. Usually, they are said in the midst of other statements about the task. Tone of voice often tells us whether the statement is positive or negative. We often emphasize the "can" or "can't" when speaking.
To distinguish between sentences #3 and #4 ("I can do it" and "I can't do it"), we rely on the context and the emphasis on the word "can't."
In normal speech, the "t" sound in "can't" is often dropped, so we need to pay attention to other cues.
To distinguish between the two sentences:
1. We rely on the context: Pay attention to the words that follow the "can" statement. If the statement is followed by a positive action or possibility, like "do it" in the case of sentence #3, it suggests the capability to perform that action.
2. We listen for emphasis: Even though the "t" sound may not be pronounced, we can emphasize the word "can't" by emphasizing the "n" sound at the beginning. We might also pause slightly before saying the word "can't" to give it more emphasis.
In summary, context and emphasis are key in distinguishing between "I can do it" and "I can't do it" when the "t" sound in "can't" is dropped in normal speech.