A two-dimensional, speech dynamic analysis of natural speech identifies linking (liaison) as a prominent class of phenomena at the phonetic syllabic level. Consonant Attraction, the specific feature under experimental observation, is highly prevalent in casual English speech both in terms of absolute frequency and in a ratio of potential to actualized link points. A statistically significant difference between native and nonnative speech can be noted for this fluency phenomenon. It points to the role this and related processes can potentially play in a taxonomy of the oral language and suggests the use of this feature as one of the parameters of fluent speech, valuable particularly in second-language proficiency assessment. There are strong indicators that the degree of alteration due to this and similar processes of absorption in phonated speech has significant repercussions on canonical shape in English.