In phonetics, what is reduced speech?

Reduced speech refers to the way in which certain sounds in spoken language are often omitted or altered during natural conversation. This phenomenon typically occurs in everyday speech, where speakers may not articulate every phoneme clearly, leading to a more relaxed and quicker form of communication. The reduction can manifest in various ways, such as vowel reduction, where unstressed vowels are pronounced less distinctly, or the dropping of consonants in casual speech.

In essence, what makes this form of speech distinct is the emphasis on fluidity and ease of communication over precise articulation. This style aligns with the characteristics of natural speech, where listeners often rely on contextual understanding and familiarity with spoken patterns rather than the precise pronunciation of every individual sound. This approach allows for more efficient communication in informal contexts, reflecting the way people typically converse in everyday situations.