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Different Y sounds
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Oftentimes, what determines the pronunciation of one word is the word that immediately follows it. In the examples you cite (y usted), the Y gets buried because it's cumbersome (and unnecessary) to make two separate sounds out of those words, so the Y tends to slide right into the next word, resulting in something that sounds like "yoosted" or just plain "usted." You'll notice that this is usually the case when Y is followed by a word that begins with a vowel. In the second example, Sandra begins with a consonant, so there is no sliding from Y to the S. It requires two separate sounds. We do similar things in English. For example, the phrase The End is actually pronounced Thee End because End begins with a vowel. If you were to say The End (pronounced Thuh End), it would feel clunky. But if the following word begins with a consonant, the Thuh form of the pronunciation would apply. Example: The Boy. We wouldn't say Thee Boy. All of this goes to say that every language does this. Certain sounds are modified to make them easier to pronounce.
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Nice explanation Dennis, Depending on what sound comes right after the "y", it can be heard more or less clearly, because it can be "linked" to the following sound as in "y-usted". Its original pronunciation remains the same nevertheless..
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When I began learning about phonemes in Spanish, my awareness of how I pronounce my native English was heightened. I've found that language exchanges, or intercambios, are a fantastic way to see two languages from two perspectives at once. English learners have such fantastic questions, and that helps me understand that I am experiencing similar challenges as I learn other languages. Making learning social has been absolutely key to my growth!
