What's the difference in pronunciation between case-sensitive and k-sensitive?

Question

This question is probably simple, but the rule behind it may apply generally.

My assumption is:

If the end of a word duplicate the beginning of the next word, the beginning of the next word should be stressed. Pronounce with no stress otherwise.

Sorry for that I am not familiar with academic terminologies of spoken English. Hopes anyone could tell me if I am correct about this and give more information on it. Thanks in advance.

Void · Accepted Answer · 2020-12-12T08:23:42.023

1

Let me give you a simple example.

Compare:

better late than never

and

better late than ever

What do you think the difference is between 1 and 2?

The N in the first sentence a little bit longer than that in the second sentence (i.e. the N is geminated). If you don't geminate it, you will end up with '....than ever.'

In case sensitive, the first S is geminated, whereas in k-sensitive, it's not.

Your assumption is correct for some words, but that's not necessary. For instance, room-mate, fish shop and cat tail are stressed on the first syllable, not the second:

[ˈɹuːm.meɪt]
[ˈfɪʃ.ʃɒp]
[ˈkæt̚teɪl]

Another example would be unnamed; if you don't geminate the N, you'll end up with un-aimed.

edited Dec 12 '20 at 08:23

answered Dec 12 '20 at 03:33

Void

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Thanks for your explanation. I guess germination is a kind of linking. Am I right? – Swa1n Suen Dec 12 '20 at 05:54
@swa1nsuen: Yes, you're right. Read the Wikipedia article I linked to in my answer. (It's Gemination, though, not germination.) – Void Dec 12 '20 at 05:58
Nice catch :) I had typed it wrong all the time from hours ago :( – Swa1n Suen Dec 12 '20 at 06:03
@swa1nsuen: Happened to me too... I was searching Gemination and my phone auto-corrected it to germination – Void Dec 12 '20 at 06:07

What's the difference in pronunciation between case-sensitive and k-sensitive?

1 Answers1

Linked