быbefore or after verb (UNCLASSIF IED)

[Paul B. Gallagher]

Sarah Hurst wrote:

> Is it just my imagination or is "on by byl" more difficult to
> pronounce than "on byl by"?

On objective grounds (mechanically speaking), I'd say neither is 
especially more difficult than the other. Prosodically, two adjacent 
stresses might require a bit of a pause (он... былбы), but I don't think 
that rises to the level of "difficulty." In terms of point of 
articulation, an English speaker might want to assimilate the alveolar 
nasal to the following bilabial, but that applies equally to both.

But anything you've practiced for many years will seem easier to rattle 
off automatically than something you just do occasionally. So if your 
habit favors one of the options, that one will seem easier.

-- 
War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
--
Paul B. Gallagher
pbg translations, inc.
"Russian Translations That Read Like Originals"
http://pbg-translations.com

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