Page 24 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Unit 1: Simple Rule for Pronunciation & Intonation

Notes
[ ] ... 'm' as in 'map'

The M is consonant. This sound is simply made by pressing the lips together lightly, mm, mm,
while making a sound with the vocal cords, mm, mm. In speech, the teeth may begin to part a
little in preparation for the vowel in the word, mm, mm, Mom, map. Pulling the lips a bit. Here
we see the M consonant sound on the right compared with the mouth at rest. You can see the lips
press slightly together. Here, parts of the mouth are drawn in. The M consonant sound is one of
the few sounds in American English where the soft palate remains down like the mouth at rest.

[ ] ... 'n' as in 'nap'

The N consonant sound. This sound is made by the front/top part of the tongue raising and
touching the roof of the mouth, nn, nn. The teeth part a bit, the lips are open, nn, nn, and the
vocal cords make sound, nn, nn. Here is the N consonant sound on the right compared with the
mouth at rest. You can see that the lips are parted and the jaw is slightly dropped for this sound.
Here, parts of the mouth are drawn in. The tongue raises in the front and touches the roof of the
mouth just behind the teeth.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 17