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. |
/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. |
/r/ | The tongue forms an arch near the roof of the mouth. It does not touch any part of the mouth. | | | | The air flows through a narrow space in your mouth. | The vocal cords vibrate. |
/θ/ | Place the tip of your tongue behind your top front teeth, touching the inside edge of your upper incisors. | Keep your lips relaxed and slightly parted. | Keep your jaw slightly open and relaxed. | Keep your top and bottom teeth slightly apart. | Push a stream of air out through your mouth, over the top of your tongue. | Do not use your vocal cords to produce this sound. It is a voiceless consonant. |
/s/ | The tongue is behind the teeth. | | | The teeth remain clenched. | The air flows through the tip of the tongue towards the edge of the teeth. | The vocal cords do not vibrate. |