As far as I know, if there is a vowel before the final /t/ or if there is the letter /n/ before the final /t/, we can make an unaspirated /t/ sound in American English. For example: "hot", "cut", "cent", "can't", "cat", "pit", "sit", "eight" etc. Can we do the same thing if there are other consonants than /n/ before the final /t/ as well? Or do I have to aspirate the /t/ in the words like "best", "worst", "greatest", "first", "belt", "port", "part" etc.? I mean, I know that when this kind of words are in the middle of a sentence, we can make the unaspirated /t/ sound. But can I make the same unaspirated sound when those kinds of words are at the end of sentences or clauses, or when they are the only word in a sentence? For example If I say "I am the best player in the team", I know that the /t/ in "best" can be unaspirated. But can it be unaspirated also in a sentence like "I am the best.", where the /t/ is the last sound of the sentence and there is another consonant before it? If the sentence was "I am so hot", the /t/ could be unaspirated. But as I said, I am not sure about the situations where the clause or the sentence ends with /st/, /lt/, /rt/ etc. I need help on this.
Learn English – make an unaspirated /t/ sound in the words like “best”, “chest”, “belt” etc. in American English
american-accentamerican-englishconsonantspronunciationspoken-english
Best Answer
I'm not a trained linguist, just a very observant student of language who pays attention to how my compatriots speak. I would say yes, you can make the unaspirated /t/ sound at the end of all of those words and sound like you've been speaking American English all of your life, whether they're in a sentence or by themselves.
I watched the video you mentioned. I disagree that speakers of American English always pronounce the final stop without aspiration. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. In fact I don't think you can say that all speakers of American English treat any final stop in any situation the same all the time. There are many variations.
It's not true that you won't sound native if you pronounce a final stop with aspiration. When Americans are speaking slowly or emphasizing what they're saying the will sometimes aspirate the stops that otherwise wouldn't be aspirated.
Another variation is not to pronounce the final consonant, particularly when speaking quickly and casually. For instance,
might often sound like
This is the same, for practical purposes, as your example of 'old' and 'gold' without the aspiration.
Regardless of what the video says, some speakers make glottal stops in place of the final /t/, to a greater or lesser extent.
So, yes, you can feel safe in making unaspirated stops in all the situations you mentioned in your question. However, I'd suggest listening to how the people around you are speaking and mimicking them. You'll find there are subtle variations that will make all the difference in how you sound.