Intonation (Part 4)

In any language, there are areas of overlap, where one category has a great deal in common with a different category. In this case, intonation and pronunciation have two areas of overlap. First is the pronunciation of the letter T. When a T is at the beginning of a word (such as table, ten, take), it is a clear sharp sound. It is also clear in combination with certain other letters, (contract, contain, etc.) When T is in the middle of a word (or in an unstressed position), it turns into a softer D sound. (This is covered in more detail in pronunciation.)

Betty bought a bit of better butter.

Sounds like: 

Beddy bada bida bedder budder. 
Click to listen 

It is this intonation/pronunciation shift that accounts for the difference between photography (phoTAgraphy) and photograph (PHOdagraph).

1.  Tommy

     Tommy
     Dommy

2.  Italian

     ITalian
     IDalian

3.  Italy

     ITaly
     IDaly

4.  water

     waTer
     waDer

5.  container

     conTainer
     conDainer