This article should be translated (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Liaison&action=edit) from material at fr:Liaison.
Liaison is a phonetic phenomenon whereby a normally silent final consonant of a word is pronounced when followed by a word beginning with a vowel. The term pertains especially to the French language. See also sandhi and elision.
In French, consonants are normally silent at the end of a word. For example, both s and t are silent in est. However, if the following word starts with a vowel, the 't' is pronounced and linked to the vowel.
Elle est canadienne. (She is Canadian.)
Elle est [t]américaine. (She is American.)
The same process also happens to nasal vowels, where they are denasalized and the n is linked to the next vowel.
mon père (my father)
mon [n]ami (my friend)
Liaison is not used all the time. There are cases where it is either mandatory, optional, or grammatically impossible.
Liaison appears between words that are strongly connected grammatically within one phrasal tonic accent.
The reading of the liaisons affects the number of syllables pronounced, hence is of chief importance for the correct pronunciation of a verse.
Currently this liaison is almost never heard except in one part of the singing of the Marseillaise ("qu'un san(g) /k/ impur") or in the expression "suer sang et eau".
The liaison is therefore expected to understand the information needs of his or her unit as clearly and specifically as possible, and to represent those needs in appropriate forums within the library.
The liaison is also expected to become knowledgeable of the subject matter and nature of the teaching and research conducted by the academic unit, particularly with regard to changes in teaching and scholarly communication within the discipline.
Liaisons are expected to exercise initiative in the performance of their work, but to recognize that library functions are inter-dependent and need to be coordinated with their colleagues.
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