Articulation Ladder

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Articulation Ladder represents ten steps of practical exercise to get prepared for an interview, meeting or performance.

I

Rely on Consonants

Prolong the initial consonants. Nasal sounds /m/ and /n/ and some /s/ sounds in the middle of words should be relied upon as well. At the end of a word a nasal sound or a fricative sound might be prolonged too.

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II

Constrict the Glottis

/b/ /d/ /g/ /a/ /ɒ/ /ɔ/ /ʊ/ /u:/

Make sure to constrict your pharynx when poronouncing each sound above. If you would like to know how it feels when you constrict your pharynx, try gurgling some water.

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III

Aspirate

Aspirate /p/ /t/ /k/

When pronouncing plosive sounds make sure to aspirate them if a words starts with either /p/ or /t/ or /k/. If yhere's a word that used to be two words (e.g. because = be + cause) aspirate the plosive in the middle too.

Wish to know about more Consonants?

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IV

Vinnie What?

/v/ and /w/

Words that start with /v/ should not be confused with the ones that begin with /w/. For the latter, your lips should be rounded. However, /v/ sound is labio dental, so make sure to move your lower lip to your upper teeth.

Wish to know about more Consonants?

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V

Was, Gas, With, Cloth

z/ s / ð / θ

Each of the above sounds should be clear. Mind that English-speaking people tend to reduce /ð/ to /θ/ or /s/ but not /z/.

Wish to know about more Consonants?

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VI

Upper Lip

Upper Lip Should be Immobile

Your upper lip should be stretched, stiff and immobile. Of course some movement is allowed (especially when you round your lips for /ʊ/, /ɔ:/ and /u:/) but it is just easier when on can access full control of their upper lip.

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VII

Front / Central / Back

Front /æ/, Central /ʌ/, Back /a:/

/æ/ is a low-front short vowel. It is also wide-open (remember a 'crying baby' emoji?) /ʌ/ is a low-central vowel. Your mouth is only slightly open. /a:/ is a low-back long vowel. You mouth is open wider than /ʌ/.

Wish to know about vowels more?

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VIII

Tin and Teen

Short /I/ and Long /i:/

Both of these sounds are high-front and unrounded. For /i:/ you'd better strecth your lips in a smile and for /I/ it is good to lower your jaw a bit. Remember, /I/ is short while /i:/ is long.

Wish to know about vowels more?

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IX

Link Words

Link the words that are Linkable

1. when a word ends with a consonant sound and the next word starts with a vowel sound
2.if there's /r/ at the end of a word, then it's not just a /r/ - it is a linking /r/ !

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X

Intonate

Intonate Correctly

1. Use a falling tone at the end of a statements, special questions and exclamations.
2. Us e a rising tone at the end of general questions and introductory phraces.

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