Page 25 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Advanced Communication Skills

Notes
[ ] ... 'ng' as in 'sing'

The NG is consonant sound. To make this sound, the back part of the tongue reaches up and
touches the soft palate, which remains down in this sound, ng, ng. The front part of the tongue
is lightly touching behind the bottom front teeth. The teeth are parted and the lips as well, ng,
ng, while the vocal cords make sound, ng, ng.

[ ] ... 'l' as in 'lap'

The L is consonant sound. This sound is especially difficult for people who don't have it in their
native language. This might be because there's actually two parts to it. It can be either a light L
or a dark L. However, in the International Phonetic Alphabet, there is only one symbol that
represents this sound, either a light L or a dark L. The L is light if it comes before the vowel or
diphthong in the syllable. If it comes after the vowel or diphthong in a syllable, it is a dark L.
First, the light L. To make this sound, the tip of the tongue reaches up, ll, ll, and touches the roof
of the mouth just behind the front teeth, ll, ll, as the vocal cords are making sound. I've also
noticed, as I've studied my own speech in slow motion, that sometimes I make this sound by
bringing the tip of the tongue through the teeth, ll, ll, similar to the position for th, th, the TH
sounds. Either position is fine, ll, like, touching the roof of the mouth, Ll, like, coming through
the teeth, like the TH. Both make the same sound. That is the light L.

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