Crisp consonants

Finish every word, with clean starts and clean endings. Lesson 27 of 70: Articulation, every level.

Consonants carry the meaning

• Vowels carry the sound; consonants carry the meaning. Say only the vowels of a sentence and nobody understands it; say the consonants crisply and people follow even in a noisy room. The ones that get lost are at the ends of words (-t, -d, -k, -s, -ed) and in clusters (-sts, -cts, -nths).
• That’s the best of the last six tests. (Every t and s)
• He asked for the facts. (“askt”, “facts”)

Plosives: p, b, t, d, k, g

• These stop the air and release it. Make the release clean and short: the tip of the tongue taps the ridge behind the teeth for t and d; the back of the tongue lifts for k and g; the lips close for p and b. Practise exaggerated first, then natural: what is left is crisp.
• Peter, Betty, Tim, Dan, Kate, Greg. (Each start clean)
• a big black bug bit a big black bear (b over and over)
• Tip: Practise with a pen held lightly between your front teeth for one minute, then take it out: your lips and tongue will work harder and sound clearer.

Lines to have ready

• The facts are clear. (Clusters in the middle and end)
• That’s exactly what we asked for. (Finishing every word)
• Let’s get it right the first time. (t after t)
• Thanks, that helps a lot. (Clean endings)

Your turn to speak

• Read a paragraph of the news aloud twice: once over-articulated, every consonant exaggerated, and once naturally. Record the natural one and listen only to the ends of words.
• My over-articulated read was truly exaggerated
• In my natural read, every -t, -d, -s and -ed was there
• Clusters like “texts” and “months” were clean

Related

• Lesson 26: Vocal variety
• Lesson 28: Open vowels
• The whole English course

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