# 2.3.3 顿与停（Stop and Pause）
在讨论**连接**（_linking_）之前有必要先研究一下**顿**（_stop_）与**停**（_pause_）—— 这一步至关重要、不可或缺。（为了便于理解，在中文表述中，我们用 “停顿” 表示 “顿”，用 “暂停” 表示 “停”。）
Before delving into the concepts of _linking_ words, it's essential to first understand _stops_ and _pauses_, which is a crucial step and can't be overlooked.
在自然语流中，多音节词汇里常常夹杂着**停顿**（_stop_）—— 这是很多初学者干脆感受不到的，所以，他们不是忽略了那些停顿，而是可能压根就不知道某些地方竟然存在停顿。
In natural speech flow, many polysyllabic words are often peppered with _breaks_. This is something many beginners might not even notice, not because they ignore these breaks, but because they might not realize there are supposed to be breaks in certain places.
一个常见的停顿来自于**重读音节**。当我们想要强调某个音节的时候，为了能把它读得相对较重，在此之前往往需要**停顿**一下 —— 做个准备。
When we want to emphasize a syllable, we often need to _stop_ briefly before it to prepare for the pronunciation.
比如，你可以试着读一下 _absolutely_ ˌæbsəˈluːtli…… 为了把 luː 这个音节读成**重音**（顺带说，这是个长元音），你可能就会不由自主地在发出 sə 之后略微**停顿**一下…… 拿之前的例子 _individual_ ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl 再试一下，若是在 vɪ 之前略微**停顿**一下，就能相对更为轻松地将它读成**重音**。
Take the word _absolutely_ ˌæbsəˈluːtli for instance. To _stress_ the luː syllable, which is long, you might find yourself involuntarily stopping slightly after pronouncing sə. The same practice applies to the word _individual_ ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl, which you've practiced before. A brief stop before vɪ makes it relatively easier to stress.
另外一个更为常见的**停顿**相对比较微妙，它就在那里，可不仅听不到，也看不到。
Another frequent stop is more subtle. It's there, but you can't see or hear it.
比如，在 _hotdog_ 这个词里，t 的声音是听不到的，但，它的舌尖动作却是**完整**的，所以，能够听到的不是 ˈhɑtˌdɔg，也不是 ˈhɑˌdɔg，而是 ˈhɑ·ˌdɔg —— 这里的 · 表示因 t 的舌尖动作完整却没有发出任何声音而产生的**停顿**。你可以再试试 _network_ ˈnetˌwərk 这个词 —— 这里面的 t 也是同样的机制。（注意，也有人用喉塞音读这里的 t）
Consider the word _hotdog_. You can't hear the t, but the articulation is complete. So instead of hearing ˈhɑtˌdɔg or ˈhɑˌdɔg, you hear ˈhɑ·ˌdɔg – the · represents a stop created by the t sound's complete articulation without any audible output. Try the same with _network_ ˈnetˌwərk – the t applies the same principle. (Note, some people pronounce the t in this context using a _glottal stop_.)
这类**停顿**（_stop_），也叫**塞音**，最常见的有以下几种：
There are several types of _stops_ in English:
> - 唇塞音：p、b、m、f、v —— _I just cannot hel**p** myself_. 第四个单词 help 末尾的 p 就是一个唇塞音。
> - **Bilabial stop**: As in _I just cannot hel**p** myself_ , the p in help is a labial stop.
> - 齿塞音：θ、ð —— _I wish the pa**th** to success was smoother._ 第四个单词 pæθ 末尾的 θ 就是一个齿塞音。
> - **Dental stop**: θ, ð - As in *I wish the *pa**th\*** to success was smoother\*, the final θ in pæθ is a dental stop.
> - 龈塞音: t、d —— _He trie**d** to discuss his idea with his boss._ 第二个单词 traɪd 末尾的 d 就是一个龈塞音。
> - **Alveolar stop**: t, d - As in *He *trie**d\*** to discuss his idea with his boss\*, where the final d in traɪd is an alveolar stop.
> - 喉塞音：k, g, t —— IPA 里用 ʔ标注。 _I don't thin**k** that is true._ 第三个单词 _think_ 末尾的 k 就是一个喉塞音，θɪŋʔ ðæt。 _uh-oh_ ɑʔoʊ 是另外一个例子…… t 也有可能用这个喉塞音，比如，_utmost_ ˈʌʔˌmoʊst，或者 ˈneʔwɝːk。
> - **Glottal stop**: k, g, t - In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the glottal stop is represented by the symbol ʔ. Take the sentence _I don't think that's true_ for example. At the end of the word _think_, there's a glottal stop, as in θɪŋʔ ðæt. Another example is the word _uh-oh_ ɑʔoʊ. Also, t can sometimes be replaced with a glottal stop, as in _utmost_ ˈʌʔˌmoʊst or _network_ ˈneʔwɝːk.
不管是哪一种，大多都是因为之前的一个辅音**虽然并未发出声音却动作完整**造成的。
Regardless of the type, most of such stops occur when a previous consonant is fully articulated without actually producing sound.
除了**停顿**（_stop_）之外，一句话可能会被分为若干个**意群**（_thought group_），意群之间总是有着明显的**暂停**（_pause_）。
Apart from _stops_, a sentence can be divided into several _thought groups_, each separated by an obvious _pause_.
先听听这段话的录音[^1]：
Check out the recording of this stentence:
> _Yet, it is a fact of life that an unlettered peasant is considered ignorant._
>
> 以下是这段音频的 _Waveform_（波谱）和 _Pitch Contour_（音高变化）：
>
> Here are the Waveform and Pitch Contour for this audio clip:
>
> 
>
> - _Pitch Contour_ 截图来自学习辅助工具 [Enjoy](https://github.com/zuodaotech/everyone-can-use-english)。
> - The screenshot of the Pitch Contour is from the learning aid App [Enjoy](https://github.com/zuodaotech/everyone-can-use-english).
在 Waveform 里我们可以清楚地看到，这句话里有两处明显的停顿（用 | 标注）：
In the Waveform, we can clearly see two significant pauses (marked with |) in this sentence:
> _Yet, | it is a fact of life | that an unlettered peasant is considered ignorant._
**停顿**（_stop_）与**暂停**（_pause_）可以用**可否换气**进行区分：
The distinction between _stop_ and _pause_ can be clarified by whether or not one has the opportunity to take a breath:
> - 音节之间的**停顿**（_stop_）通常是不用甚至不能换气的；
> - A _stop_ usually occurs between syllables where you don't need to, and often can't, take a breath;
> - 意群之间的**暂停**（_pause_）是可以换气的 —— 当然若非必要也可以不换气；
> - A _pause_ typically happens between thought groups, where you have the opportunity to take a breath - although it's not always necessary to do so.
[^1]: This audio clip is extracted from the Audible edition of _Knowledge and Decisions_ by Thomas Sowell.