contractions in informal speeches

[adexx]

Hi all,

What I want to ask today, is the way native Japanese people speak certain (common) phrases, like ありがとうございます、おはようございます、おつかれさまでした and so on.
When I heard native speakers talk with each other, I noticed these phrases tended to be shortened, especially when they talked fast.
Just a few examples, what I heard sounded like:
- ありがとうございました -> あらました
- おはようございます -> おざいます
At first I just thought they talked very fast so they sounded like that, but for such a long word like ありがとうございました, it couldn't have sounded that short however fast you speak. And some sounds (がとう) were dropped too.
So, is it my ear or is this a common way of shortening common (long) phrases?

Thanks.

 

[kyotan]

People don't drop sounds usually, but in 居酒屋or staff at fish store, they might pronounce words in a way the sounds are more connected. Such as "あざーっす。”＝ありがとうございます。　

おはようございます might sound like はよざいますwhen spoken fast.

あざーっすis used like a slang among regular people jokingly sometimes, too.

 

[Nobu.0]

おはようございます might sound like はよざいますwhen spoken fast.

Or it sometimes sounds to me like "あよざいます"

 

[adexx]

Thanks.

Would it be weird if I try saying the same thing? Or should it be used among really close group only?

 

[kyotan]

It's just an informal way of speech. It does not have much to do with closeness.
You will be speaking like that, as your Japanese become more fluent.