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. |
/ɜ/ | The middle part of the tongue lifts towards the roof of the mouth in the middle. The front of the tongue hangs down. But it does not touch anything. | The corners of the lips come in, pushing the lips away from the face. | | | | 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. |
/l/ | The tongue is against the back of the upper teeth. | | | | The air flows around the sides of 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. |