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Is there any hidden 'W' sound after 'comment' in : Comment est-elle?

5

2

Comment est-il?

I don't know why, even tho I know that there is no linking 'W' sound in French as there is in English I still hear it between 'comment' and 'est' as if it were (/kɔ.mɑ̃ w ɛt.i.l/) and it has been driving me crazy so I'm wondering if what I hear is correct.

Here is a link to a video where I think the 'W' sound is pronounced when 'comment est-il' is said :
https://youtu.be/V98BvCQrVeM

Note: I am not sure about the phonetic transcript. Feel free to correct it if it contains any mistakes.

prononciation

share|improve this question

edited 22 hours ago

Manar

asked 23 hours ago

ManarManar

507

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There is not the least trace of a w sound after "comment" in either of the sources you mention; I've listened repeatedly; that is very strange. All that can be heard from Google translate is the somewhat blurred pronunciation of "il" (almost "i" instead of "il"). google
  
  – LPH
  22 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Also, while the speaker in that video doesn't have any sort of -strong- accent, I'd guess they were not native speakers. That might be messing with your ear.
  
  – George M
  15 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  +1 pour la vidéo :)
  
  – lmc
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

5

2

Comment est-il?

I don't know why, even tho I know that there is no linking 'W' sound in French as there is in English I still hear it between 'comment' and 'est' as if it were (/kɔ.mɑ̃ w ɛt.i.l/) and it has been driving me crazy so I'm wondering if what I hear is correct.

Here is a link to a video where I think the 'W' sound is pronounced when 'comment est-il' is said :
https://youtu.be/V98BvCQrVeM

Note: I am not sure about the phonetic transcript. Feel free to correct it if it contains any mistakes.

prononciation

share|improve this question

edited 22 hours ago

Manar

asked 23 hours ago

ManarManar

507

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There is not the least trace of a w sound after "comment" in either of the sources you mention; I've listened repeatedly; that is very strange. All that can be heard from Google translate is the somewhat blurred pronunciation of "il" (almost "i" instead of "il"). google
  
  – LPH
  22 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Also, while the speaker in that video doesn't have any sort of -strong- accent, I'd guess they were not native speakers. That might be messing with your ear.
  
  – George M
  15 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  +1 pour la vidéo :)
  
  – lmc
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Comment est-il?

I don't know why, even tho I know that there is no linking 'W' sound in French as there is in English I still hear it between 'comment' and 'est' as if it were (/kɔ.mɑ̃ w ɛt.i.l/) and it has been driving me crazy so I'm wondering if what I hear is correct.

Here is a link to a video where I think the 'W' sound is pronounced when 'comment est-il' is said :
https://youtu.be/V98BvCQrVeM

Note: I am not sure about the phonetic transcript. Feel free to correct it if it contains any mistakes.

prononciation

share|improve this question

edited 22 hours ago

Manar

asked 23 hours ago

ManarManar

507

share|improve this question

edited 22 hours ago

Manar

asked 23 hours ago

ManarManar

507

share|improve this question

edited 22 hours ago

Manar

asked 23 hours ago

ManarManar

507

asked 23 hours ago

ManarManar

507

asked 23 hours ago

ManarManar

507

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

12

In both the video and Google Translate's pronunciation, I think I understand what you're hearing. It seems to be an implicit glide between the /ɑ̃/ and the /ɛ/ simply as a function of the first being further back: /ɑ/ is open back, whereas /ɛ/ is open-mid front.

If a speaker is not very careful to articulate each sound distinctly (as is normal in spoken language), you can get a "legato" effect. The tongue makes essentially the same motion by moving from back to front as it would make if you were intentionally articulating a /w/.¹

However, /w/ is also labial and that feature is absent in both of those unrounded vowels, so it's not a full /w/. At least, that's true of the canonical vowels. One seemingly linguistically informed and France-centred resource claims that many French speakers do actually do some light lip-rounding on the first vowel.

I personally find it hard to tell whether rounding is happening based on your video, but it would better explain your perception of /w/. In any case, if you slow the video down to 0.5x speed, you'll hear more clearly what's happening.

---

_{¹ The phenomenon of two consecutive vowels is called hiatus. If not resolved, it can lead to just this sort of confusion. One way to resolve it is a brief glottal stop, perceived as a pause between the vowels. Also common in French is liaison, at least where it's syntactically possible.}

share|improve this answer

edited 13 hours ago

answered 23 hours ago

Luke SawczakLuke Sawczak

10.3k21446

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  So if I understood correctly, in the video and Google Transelate's pronunciation there is a /w/ sound but it is not a full /w/ sound though because such sound require the lips and I should be careful ,when saying such sentence, to not say neither a /w/ sound or a half /w/ sound and to use a glottal stop instead or a liaison ,if it's possible.
  
  – Manar
  23 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Manar The best way is probably not to think about it at all. If you make those vowels right, you'll get the same effects automatically -- and native speakers won't be listening for it anyway, possibly not even aware of it.
  
  – Luke Sawczak
  22 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

You answered your own question: there is not and there is no reason why there would be. Where did you hear this -- is this some specific accent perhaps?

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Mathieu BouvilleMathieu Bouville

67412

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Maybe as I sometimes hear it and sometimes not. Here in this video, for example, I hear it. youtu.be/V98BvCQrVeM
  
  – Manar
  23 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Manar Can you add that link to the question please?
  
  – Luke Sawczak
  23 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In addition, when I typed it on 'google transelate' and listened to the audio of it being pronounced I heard the 'W' sound. I even recorded the audio and tried to hear it in a slower speed and still heard it.
  
  – Manar
  23 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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12

In both the video and Google Translate's pronunciation, I think I understand what you're hearing. It seems to be an implicit glide between the /ɑ̃/ and the /ɛ/ simply as a function of the first being further back: /ɑ/ is open back, whereas /ɛ/ is open-mid front.

If a speaker is not very careful to articulate each sound distinctly (as is normal in spoken language), you can get a "legato" effect. The tongue makes essentially the same motion by moving from back to front as it would make if you were intentionally articulating a /w/.¹

However, /w/ is also labial and that feature is absent in both of those unrounded vowels, so it's not a full /w/. At least, that's true of the canonical vowels. One seemingly linguistically informed and France-centred resource claims that many French speakers do actually do some light lip-rounding on the first vowel.

I personally find it hard to tell whether rounding is happening based on your video, but it would better explain your perception of /w/. In any case, if you slow the video down to 0.5x speed, you'll hear more clearly what's happening.

---

_{¹ The phenomenon of two consecutive vowels is called hiatus. If not resolved, it can lead to just this sort of confusion. One way to resolve it is a brief glottal stop, perceived as a pause between the vowels. Also common in French is liaison, at least where it's syntactically possible.}

share|improve this answer

edited 13 hours ago

answered 23 hours ago

Luke SawczakLuke Sawczak

10.3k21446

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  So if I understood correctly, in the video and Google Transelate's pronunciation there is a /w/ sound but it is not a full /w/ sound though because such sound require the lips and I should be careful ,when saying such sentence, to not say neither a /w/ sound or a half /w/ sound and to use a glottal stop instead or a liaison ,if it's possible.
  
  – Manar
  23 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Manar The best way is probably not to think about it at all. If you make those vowels right, you'll get the same effects automatically -- and native speakers won't be listening for it anyway, possibly not even aware of it.
  
  – Luke Sawczak
  22 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

12

In both the video and Google Translate's pronunciation, I think I understand what you're hearing. It seems to be an implicit glide between the /ɑ̃/ and the /ɛ/ simply as a function of the first being further back: /ɑ/ is open back, whereas /ɛ/ is open-mid front.

If a speaker is not very careful to articulate each sound distinctly (as is normal in spoken language), you can get a "legato" effect. The tongue makes essentially the same motion by moving from back to front as it would make if you were intentionally articulating a /w/.¹

However, /w/ is also labial and that feature is absent in both of those unrounded vowels, so it's not a full /w/. At least, that's true of the canonical vowels. One seemingly linguistically informed and France-centred resource claims that many French speakers do actually do some light lip-rounding on the first vowel.

I personally find it hard to tell whether rounding is happening based on your video, but it would better explain your perception of /w/. In any case, if you slow the video down to 0.5x speed, you'll hear more clearly what's happening.

---

_{¹ The phenomenon of two consecutive vowels is called hiatus. If not resolved, it can lead to just this sort of confusion. One way to resolve it is a brief glottal stop, perceived as a pause between the vowels. Also common in French is liaison, at least where it's syntactically possible.}

share|improve this answer

edited 13 hours ago

answered 23 hours ago

Luke SawczakLuke Sawczak

10.3k21446

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  So if I understood correctly, in the video and Google Transelate's pronunciation there is a /w/ sound but it is not a full /w/ sound though because such sound require the lips and I should be careful ,when saying such sentence, to not say neither a /w/ sound or a half /w/ sound and to use a glottal stop instead or a liaison ,if it's possible.
  
  – Manar
  23 hours ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  5
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Manar The best way is probably not to think about it at all. If you make those vowels right, you'll get the same effects automatically -- and native speakers won't be listening for it anyway, possibly not even aware of it.
  
  – Luke Sawczak
  22 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

In both the video and Google Translate's pronunciation, I think I understand what you're hearing. It seems to be an implicit glide between the /ɑ̃/ and the /ɛ/ simply as a function of the first being further back: /ɑ/ is open back, whereas /ɛ/ is open-mid front.

If a speaker is not very careful to articulate each sound distinctly (as is normal in spoken language), you can get a "legato" effect. The tongue makes essentially the same motion by moving from back to front as it would make if you were intentionally articulating a /w/.¹

However, /w/ is also labial and that feature is absent in both of those unrounded vowels, so it's not a full /w/. At least, that's true of the canonical vowels. One seemingly linguistically informed and France-centred resource claims that many French speakers do actually do some light lip-rounding on the first vowel.

I personally find it hard to tell whether rounding is happening based on your video, but it would better explain your perception of /w/. In any case, if you slow the video down to 0.5x speed, you'll hear more clearly what's happening.

---

_{¹ The phenomenon of two consecutive vowels is called hiatus. If not resolved, it can lead to just this sort of confusion. One way to resolve it is a brief glottal stop, perceived as a pause between the vowels. Also common in French is liaison, at least where it's syntactically possible.}

share|improve this answer

edited 13 hours ago

answered 23 hours ago

Luke SawczakLuke Sawczak

10.3k21446

share|improve this answer

edited 13 hours ago

answered 23 hours ago

Luke SawczakLuke Sawczak

10.3k21446

answered 23 hours ago

Luke SawczakLuke Sawczak

10.3k21446

answered 23 hours ago

Luke SawczakLuke Sawczak

10.3k21446

2

You answered your own question: there is not and there is no reason why there would be. Where did you hear this -- is this some specific accent perhaps?

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Mathieu BouvilleMathieu Bouville

67412

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Maybe as I sometimes hear it and sometimes not. Here in this video, for example, I hear it. youtu.be/V98BvCQrVeM
  
  – Manar
  23 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Manar Can you add that link to the question please?
  
  – Luke Sawczak
  23 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In addition, when I typed it on 'google transelate' and listened to the audio of it being pronounced I heard the 'W' sound. I even recorded the audio and tried to hear it in a slower speed and still heard it.
  
  – Manar
  23 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

You answered your own question: there is not and there is no reason why there would be. Where did you hear this -- is this some specific accent perhaps?

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Mathieu BouvilleMathieu Bouville

67412

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Maybe as I sometimes hear it and sometimes not. Here in this video, for example, I hear it. youtu.be/V98BvCQrVeM
  
  – Manar
  23 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Manar Can you add that link to the question please?
  
  – Luke Sawczak
  23 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In addition, when I typed it on 'google transelate' and listened to the audio of it being pronounced I heard the 'W' sound. I even recorded the audio and tried to hear it in a slower speed and still heard it.
  
  – Manar
  23 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

You answered your own question: there is not and there is no reason why there would be. Where did you hear this -- is this some specific accent perhaps?

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Mathieu BouvilleMathieu Bouville

67412

share|improve this answer

answered 23 hours ago

Mathieu BouvilleMathieu Bouville

67412

answered 23 hours ago

Mathieu BouvilleMathieu Bouville

67412

answered 23 hours ago

Mathieu BouvilleMathieu Bouville

67412