<![CDATA[Linking, assimilation, and elision are key features of connected speech that facilitate natural communication in English. However, they receive limited attention in EFL instruction, particularly in Arab contexts where written forms are prioritised. Limited exposure to natural speech and reduced forms leads Saudi male learners to struggle with listening comprehension. This study investigated Saudi male university students’ perceptions of connected speech features at the University of Prince Mugrin using a background questionnaire, dictation tests, and ABX discrimination tests, with participants purposively selected in line with the institution’s gender-segregation policy. It specifically addressed how Saudi students at the University of Prince Mugrin perceive the connected speech features of assimilation, elision, and linking. The study adopted quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate perceptual sensitivity across these three targeted features. Thirty pre-intermediate learners, identified through the institutional placement test, participated in controlled classroom-based data collection. The results revealed that linking was the most difficult to perceive, followed by assimilation, while elision was perceived most accurately. The findings indicate that learners rely on contextual cues and lexical familiarity rather than phonological decoding, with performance shaped by L1 influence, cognitive load, and limited exposure to natural speech. The study concludes that explicit instruction and increased exposure to authentic input can enhance Saudi EFL learners’ perception of connected speech.]]>
