trixtal

[earnest granite]

Please be patient

Our volunteers look into many questions every day; sometimes it takes them a little while to answer.

Pro tip: you can rename the thread title with `.tr <thread name>`

Make it descriptive, including relevant context, but also to the point. This way you improve your chances of getting a more relevant and specific answer.

[glass basin]

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/pronunciation/liaisons/

[odd panther]

So in other words I will drive myself bonkers trying to figure out the "why" behind it? lol Seems like my time will be better spent with immersion and on other facets of the language where I will eventually, hopefully, pick up these more complicated rules subconsciously. 🤞

et merci ! 💜

[glass basin]

yeah, a lot of it is just getting used to it. However, I'd say if you can memorize the mandatory liaisons, you can generally avoid the rest! The more optional liaisons you use, the more formal you sound (some are suuuuper formal, to the point of some people thinking they're forbidden, while others might come across in casual conversation, but regardless - more liaison = more formal)
then you can add other liaisons if you hear them a lot and want to use them :p

[odd panther]

Is using less liaisons considered rude when talking with strangers or those who would warrant the use of "vous" in the same way using "tu" would be? Or is it less of an issue?

[glass basin]

I wouldn't say so no, I can't think of any that would. It might sound a tad more "relaxed" and perhaps slightly less professional for say, an interview, but even then I can't see it being an issue, just sounds like you're talking more comfortably

you're more likely to sound pompous and stuck-up for adding too many liaisons, lol

[odd panther]

haha, good to know! I appreciate your recommendation of learning the mandatory ones and letting immersion more or less takeover after that. I will keep that in the forefront as I continue this journey. 😊

[glass basin]

Yep! You don't even have to memorize them by heart or anything, but it may help to understand what ones are actually important, so you can ignore the rest until you're comfortable. It might be worth it to check out the other ones nonetheless, just to get an idea of what kind of things might be optional or forbidden, but no need to memorize them!

[odd panther]

I've bookmarked the link you shared to do just this! I'll give it a read for the required, optional, and forbidden and make sure I have a basic understanding at least.