word 'because' in everyday conversation.

The word 'because' has a couple of different pronunciations. It can either have the AW

vowel or the UH vowel in the second syllable. But let's start at the beginning. The first

syllable is unstressed: be-, be- because. It begins with the B consonant sound, then

the 'ih' as in 'sit' vowel. The second syllable, stressed, which will be higher in pitch and

longer than the first, begins with the K consonant sound. Then either the AW or the UH vowel,

and finally, the Z sound. Now this is important, it's written with an S, so some people tend

to pronounce it as an 'S'. But it is a Z sound, so it does need to be voiced: because, zz,

zz, zz. It will be a very quick final consonant, but it does have to have the vocal cords engaged.

Because is a conjunction, which makes it a function word. And function words are generally

the words that will be unstressed in a sentence. Sometimes unstressed words will be reduced.

And the word 'because' can reduce to simply 'cuz, 'cuz. So the unstressed syllable will

get dropped altogether, and the vowel will most likely change to simply the schwa. Cuz,

cuz, cuz. In my opinion, it's not appropriate in written communication to write 'because'

as 'cuz'. But in spoken English, it's certainly acceptable to reduce the word 'because' to

'cuz' in everyday conversation.

As always, when you reduce a word, make sure that you link it to the words that come around

it. So, with the word 'because', if we reduce it to 'cuz', 'cuz', we want to make sure to

take that final Z sound and link it up to the next word. Let's look at some examples.

I missed the train because I overslept. Because I, because I, because I overslept. Or, I missed

the train 'cuz I overslept. cuz_I, cuz_I, 'cuz I overslept. Why are you leaving? Because

I'm tired. Because, because, because I'm tired. Or, 'cuz I'm tired, cuz_I, cuz_I, 'cuz I'm

tired. I can't go because my mom's in town. Because, because, I can't go because my mom's

in town. Or, I can't go 'cuz my mom's in town, cuz_my, cuz_my, cuz_my, I can't go 'cuz my

mom's in town. I made chicken because I know you hate fish. Because I, because I. Or, I

made chicken 'cuz I know you hate fish. Cuz_I, cuz_I. My assignment is late because my computer

crashed. Because, because. My assignment is late because my computer crashed. Or, my assignment

is late 'cuz my computer crashed, cuz_my, cuz_my, cuz_my, 'cuz my computer crashed.

So, don't be afraid to reduce because to 'cuz, 'cuz. Just make sure you link it to the next word.

That's it, and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.

I'd like to take moment for a quick plug for a new course I'm developing. It's going to

be an 8-week conversation course that runs in April and May of 2012. It will bring together

videos, audio clips, and exercise PDFs that I've made for my private students. So, I'll

be pulling in the topics that I find I work on the most with my students. Each week is

structured with certain topics. There will be a lot of drilling practice, and also opportunity

for you to record yourself and upload it for my comment. There will also be group projects,

where you'll be engaging in conversation with one another. Because this is my first time

running such a course, I am offering it at a discount, and I'm also limiting the number

of students to 30. So visit my website for more information, and do consider signing

up. I really think it will take you a long way in your pronunciation practice.