This English language reduction is used often among
native English speakers in America especially among
young people.
Note: Reductions
Remember the following:
Reductions are reduced forms of
English words.
Reductions, such as jya are
not real words in English.
You need to use reductions in
order to sound more natural.
You need to know reductions in
order to understand conversations between native
English speakers.
Reductions are used extensively
in American TV, movies, music, literature, and in
conversations among native English speakers.
Reductions In Music and TV
The Kinks - Did ya
The Kinks are an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, north
London, in 1964 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They are regarded
as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band
emerged during the height of British rhythm and blues and Merseybeat,
and were briefly part of the British Invasion of the United States
until their touring ban in 1965 (as a result of constant fighting
between the brothers). Their third single, the Ray Davies-penned
"You Really Got Me", became an international hit, topping the charts
in the United Kingdom and reaching the Top 10 in the United States.
Their music was influenced by a wide range of genres, including
American R&B and rock and roll initially, and later adopting British
music hall, folk, and country. They gained a reputation for
reflecting English culture and lifestyle, fuelled by Ray Davies'
wittily observational writing style.
This video is a good example of the usage of "jya" English language
reduction.
Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Lyrics
Went for a walk down the old king's road,
To see if anybody was there.
But there was nobody home at 3 bywater street,
And they had sold cadogan square.
And I remember myself in my tie dye sweater,
And my hipster corduroy flares.
As I knocked on doors,
And walked down one-way streets that led nowhere.
Ah, jya ever think it
wouldn't last forever? Jya ever think that it
would get this bad? Jya ever think that
everything would get so crazy?
Now the chelsea drug store needs a fix,
It's in a state of ill repair.
And my cuban heels are hurting my feet,
Just to add to my despair.
La-di-dahs drove mini cars in the summertime.
(in the summertime)
Now they're towed away for parking on a double yellow
line,
And they can't pay the fine.
(jya ever think) Jya ever think we'd all
believe the hype?
(jya ever think) Jya ever think the
classes all would revert back to type?
(jya ever think) Jya ever think the system
ever really got it right?
Oh, baby.
They filled us full of false illusions and promiscuity,
And they led us down that class-less road to mediocrity.
As we walked down that alley way of hope,
We thought we'd found the motherload,
But we were led like lambs to that promise land,
With all the debts that we would owe.
Once trendies posed for tourist pictures in the
summertime.
(in the summertime)
Not content with taking polaroids, they purchased all
the property that they could find,
And I've just sold mine. (jya
ever!) Jya ever think that this
green and pleasant land,
(jya ever think)
Would end up in the bottom of some garbage can,
(jya ever think)
A dustbin full of promises and half-hearted plans.
Oh, baby. Jya,
jya,
jya ever think? Jya ever think?
(in the summertime)
Now miseries and groaners moan and reminisce about the
good old times and whine, whine, whine.
(jya ever think) Jya ever think when
things were really fab,
(jya ever think)
That we'd be looking through a dustbin for a dog-end to
drag,
(jya ever think)
And sleep on park benches wrapped in plastic bags.
Oh, baby. Jya ever think that it
would get this crazy?
(jya ever think) Jya ever think that it
would get this way?
(jya ever think) Jya ever think that we
would pay the price for being lazy?
Additional Lessons
About These
Lessons
The following classroom lessons are great for students
who want additional conversation, listening, and reading
practice.
Conversation Lesson -
Advanced
Level. Dialogs for everyday use.
Short situational dialogs for students of English as
a Foreign (EFL) or Second (ESL) Language with a
written conversation and a conversation notes
section.
Dialogs for everyday use. Short situational dialogs for
students of English as a Foreign (EFL) or Second (ESL)
Language.
Coincidences
MEG: Well, hello there, Julia! Long time
no see!
JULIA: Meg! Hi! What a coincidence! I
haven’t seen you in ages! What are you doing here?
MEG: I just got a new job in the city, so
I’m shopping for some clothes. Hey, what do you think of this shirt?
JULIA: Hmmm … well, you know how much I
love blue. See? I’ve got the same shirt!
MEG: You always did have good taste! What
a small world.
Conversation Notes
Well, hello there … Notice the emphasis on “hello,”
which shows that Meg did not expect to see Julia.
Long time, no see! This is a common expression used to
say hello to someone you haven’t seen in a long time.
What a ___! This exclamation shows a great degree of
surprise, joy, disappointment, etc. (What a surprise to see you here! What a
joy to have you with us! What a shame that you have to leave so soon! What a
wonderful idea that is!)
You always did have good taste! Notice the stress on
“did,” which Meg uses to emphasize the fact that Julia DOES have good taste!
Meg says it in a joking way because Julia likes the same thing that she
does.
What a small world is a common expression used to
describe a chance meeting or other such coincidence.
This is a collection of 30 situational conversations
which focus on a wide variety of communicative and
natural encounters in English....these
lessons are for beginning students.
This is a collection of 36 situational conversations
which focus on spoken American English in a relatively
natural way....these
lessons are for intermediate students.
The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
The lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
Hey Students,
Use this dictionary and reference to look up any words you do not
understand in Fun Easy English.
