Is there a [n ] in the end of gerunds?

Question

When I listen to americans talking, I always notice that in the end of the gerund verb form they pronounce a [n ] (at least in some contexts). So, for example, "She is talking about me" becomes "she is talkinabout me" and "are you studying english?" becomes "are you studyininglish?". Am I crazy or americans do pronounce this n sound there?

Thanks =)

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Yes.
Pronouncing "-ing" as "in" is an American dialectic.
Authors will even show this pronunciation by using a single quote in spelling, similar to the contraction.
He's goin' to the store.
There are many American regional dialects!

CalifJim · Answer

wontSo, for example, "She is talking about me" becomes "she is talkinabout me"

Yes. It is not the most careful form of speech, but some people do use that pronunciation of the -ing forms. Personally, I would not recommend imitating this habit.

CJ

Reefannie · Answer

No, you are not crazy wont. The American tongue has become very lazy. When I was a young girl we were taught to enunciate using the "tip of the tongue, your teeth and your lips".

Also, where I live is a melting pot of many nationalities so the English language is really slaughtered.

Another thing I have noticed in the last 20 years is the bastardation of some words where they become accepted, and in some cases, included in the dictionary as an actual word.

If I were Eeyore I'd be saying, "we're all doomed!".

AlpheccaStars · Answer

reefannieIf I were Eeyore I'd be saying, "we're all doomed!".

And Shakespeare would roll over in his grave if he heard the way English is spoken today!
But his rollover would probably be more of a "jump for joy" since, after listening carefully, this language rebel would notice how many of his innovations "stuck" through the centuries.

Wont · Answer

CalifJimIt is not the most careful form of speech, but some people do use that pronunciation of the -ing forms. Personally, I would not recommend imitating this habit.

Why not Calif? Is it strange or not-educated?

Thanks for the aswers =)

CalifJim · Answer

wontWhy not Calif? Is it strange or not-educated?

It does seem to be used more frequently by less educated people. In my experience, for example, almost all college graduates pronounce the full -ing.

CJ

Kooyeen · Answer

wontWhy not Calif? Is it strange or not-educated?

He won't tell you directly he thinks so, because Alphecca is here, and you know the saying... Don't mess with Texas!

LOL

As far as I know, it's a feature of informal speech, and it's probably common in some dialects, and less common in others. It's not an American thing, I think, it's common in the UK too.
I think I tend to drop the g most of the time when followed by a vowel, but don't ask me where I picked that up... I just don't know. It just comes natural to me. So I often say "I am talking", but "I am talkin' about it".
I just don't worry to much about it anymore because I realized that since I don't live in an English speaking country I don't need to pick up a specific dialect and all of its specific features. I come across a lot of different ways of speaking quite often, so becoming obsessed with single minor features seems counterproductive to me. It is important to recognize them if you can, but whether you want to use them or not is up to you. In my case, just as an example, I currently have the cot-caught merger (which means I don't make any distinction between the vowel in "cot" and the one in "caught"), but I don't have the pin-pen merger (which means I don't pronounce "Wendy" as "windy"). I know about that feature, but for some reason I don't find myself using it.

That was just an example to show you that, being a non-native speaker in a foreign country and not knowing where I might end up in the future, it doesn't make much sense for me to have a specific accent. I might well end up in London and speak Cockney.

CalifJim · Answer

KooyeenI might well end up in London and speak Cockney.

I don't think so.

CJ

Kooyeen · Answer

CalifJimI don't think so.

Why not?

Well, I agree. I think I am just likely to stay here where I am.

Anonymous · Answer

Many Americans do pronounce gerund verb forms as you noticed.  It seems to be a regional trait, with Americans from some regions using more careful pronunciation.  It is also sometimes situation specific (most people will enunciate better when speaking in a formal situation, but revert to the /n/ sound in everyday language).

Is there a [n ] in the end of gerunds?

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