Sound | Tongue | Lips | Jaw | Teeth | Air | Vocal Chords |
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/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. |
/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. |