Sound | Tongue | Lips | Jaw | Teeth | Air | Vocal Chords |
---|
/ˈ/ | | | | | | |
/b/ | | The lips start together. Then they separate. | | There is a small gap between the teeth. | First, the air stops. Then, it flows. | The vocal cords vibrate. |
/w/ | The back of the tongue reaches up high in the back. It does not touch the soft palate. The front part of the tongue remains forward. It touches the bottom front teeth. | The lips form a rounded shape. They move away from the face. | | | | The vocal cords 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. |