Sound | Tongue | Lips | Jaw | Teeth | Air | Vocal Chords |
---|
/ˈ/ | | | | | | |
/k/ | The back part of the tongue reaches up and touches the soft palate, cutting off the air. The tongue pulls away and the air flows. | The lips position to adjust the sound that comes next. | | | Air passes through the mouth. First, the air stops. Then, it flows. | The vocal cords do not vibrate. |
/ɑ/ | The tongue is flat and low in the mouth. The tongue is in the center of the mouth. The tip of the tongue touches the back of the bottom front teeth. | The lips remain relaxed in a neutral position. | The jaw drops, opening the mouth as wide as possible. | | | The vocal cords vibrate. |
/m/ | | The lips are together. | | | The air comes out of the nose. There is no flow of air through the mouth. | The vocal cords vibrate. |
/z/ | The tongue is behind the teeth. | | | The teeth remain clenched. | The air flows through the tip of the tongue. | The vocal cords vibrate. |