Microsoft Word Glossary March 2011 doc

co-ordinating conjunction, subordinating conjunction. 
 
Connected speech 
Spoken language in which the words join to form a connected stream of sounds. In connected speech some sounds 
in words may be left out or may be pronounced in a weak way, e.g. Is he busy 

 / ˆziÄbˆziÄ /. See linking, weak 
forms.  
 
Connector: see conjunction. 
 
► 
Connotation 
The associations of a word. These associations may come from a situation, person or culture. e.g. ‘garlic’ – in 
some countries garlic is thought of as health-giving and tasty; in others it is thought of as smelly and 
overpowering. Because connotations are often subjective, they are not easy to learn. This example is terribly 
specific and is also cross-cultural. Connotation also explains the difference between words like ‘thin’ and ‘slim’ - 
or ‘house’ and ‘property’, which has a focus on language itself. 
 
Consolidate, reinforce 
To return to something in order to allow learners to understand and remember it more completely. For example, 
learners can consolidate a grammar point by doing extra practice. 
 
Consonant 
A sound in which the air is partly blocked by the lips, tongue, teeth etc. Any letter of the English alphabet which 
represents these sounds, e.g. d 

 /d/, c 

 /k/. See diphthong and vowel. 
 
► Consonant cluster 
Two or more consonants occurring together at the beginning or end of a syllable e.g. / eks / in
/ eksáésaˆz / (exercise); / str / in / strŘ / (strong).
 
Consult 
To get advice or information from someone or something, e.g. teachers and learners might consult a dictionary or 
grammar book.