Sound | Tongue | Lips | Jaw | Teeth | Air | Vocal Chords |
---|
/ˈ/ | | | | | | |
/f/ | | The bottom lips are in contact with the teeth. | | The top teeth press the bottom lips. | The air flows through the teeth. | The vocal cords do not 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. |
/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. |
/p/ | Place the tip of your tongue behind your upper front teeth, or slightly below them, so that the air is completely blocked in the oral cavity. | Round your lips tightly, creating a seal to prevent any air from escaping through your mouth. | Keep your jaw relatively tense and stable, without any movement. | The teeth should not be involved in the production of this sound. | Build up air pressure behind the blockage created by your tongue and lips, and then release the air suddenly by popping open the lips, causing a burst of air to be expelled. | Do not use your vocal cords to produce this sound, as it is an unvoiced sound. |
/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. |