the t and_the_d_sounds_in_english

The /t/ and /d/ Sounds in English

A Pronunciation Lessoncompiled by

Rita Simons Santiago


The mouth position is the same for both the /t/ and /d/.

Pronuncian

http://www.pronuncian.com/Sounds/default.aspx


The /t/ is pronounced by placing the tip of the tongue behind the teeth on the roof of the mouth, stopping the flow of air, and then releasing it.

The /t/ is voiceless.

The /d/ is pronounced by placing the tip of the tongue behind the teeth on the roof of the mouth, stopping the flow of air, and then releasing it. The /d/ is voiced.

The release of air for the /t/ is greater than for the /d/ especially when it is the first sound of a word or the first sound of a stressed syllable.


T and D Consonants: American English Pronunciation

http://rachelsenglish.com/consonant_dt


tab tametearteentealtintimetontunetroll

dab damedaredean deal dindimedone dunedroll

Minimal Pairs: Listen and repeat each pair of words. Pay special attention to the first (initial) sound in each word.


atbatcathatitkitlitneatpatsat

adbad cadhadidkidlidneedpadsad

Minimal Pairs: Listen and repeat each pair of words. Pay special attention to the last (final) sound in each word.


When the /t/ is between two vowels and not at the beginning of a stressed syllable, it sounds like a soft /d/.

water daughter got a matter later a lot of fatter batter wetter Bettyl


Practice these sentences:

What a good idea! [w'd' güdäi deey'] Put it in a bottle. [pü di di n' bäd'l] Get a better water heater. [gedda bedder wäder heeder] Put all the data in the computer. [püdall the dayd' in the k'mpyuder] Patty ought to write a better letter. [pædy äd' ride a bedder ledder]

5 Minute English

http://www.5minuteenglish.com/march31.htm


With -tain, -tten and some TN combinations, the T is held. What does that mean?

The mouth position for the /t/ and /n/ are very similar.So... If the /n/ immediately follows /t/, raise your tongue to pronounce the /t/—the tongue is in the /t/ position, but do not pronounce the /t/, but rather release the air with the /n/. In other words, the air is released nasally with the /n/ not with the /t/. 5 Minute English

http://www.5minuteenglish.com/march31.htm%20


One more thing...Make sure you don't put a vowel sound before the /n/! An important point to remember is that you need a sharp upward sliding intonation up to the "held T," then a quick drop for the N. Listen and repeat the following words: sentence written certain forgotten5 Minute English

http://www.5minuteenglish.com/march31.htm


Now try pronouncing these sentences:

He's forgotten the carton of satin mittens.

She's certain that he has written it.

Martin has gotten a kitten.

5 Minute English



The /t/ and /n/ are so close in the mouth that the /t/ can actually disappear as in these words: interview [innerview] international [innernational] advantage [ædvæn'j] percentage [percen'j]

5 Minute English



Don't be surprised if you don't even hear the final /t/. It frequently seems to get swallowed up!

It wasn't what they thought.

The cat swallowed the fat rat.

Why didn't she set the hot pot on the cot?


The /d/ is also omitted in certain words. When a /d/ occurs after the /n/ and before another consonant sound, the /d/ can be omitted. (pounds) This can be true in the middle of a word (grandmother) or when one word ends with the /d/ and the next word starts with a consonant sound (stand still, find Mike). Pronuncian


Listen and repeat these words with the /d/ in the middle of a word: sends pounds errands handsome sandwich Pronuncian


Listen and repeat these phrases in which one word ends with the /d/ and the next word starts with a consonant sound:

February is the second_month of the year.

The game should end_by 10:00.

Grandma found_someone to help her. Pronuncian


To learn more about the /d/

in the -ed endings of regular past tense verbs,see Rita's

The -ed Ending Sounds in English.


"All last year we tried to teach him English, and the only word he learned was million." Tommy Lasorda, on baseball pitcher Fernando Valenzuela


References:

5 Minute English

Pronuncian T and D Consonants: American English Pronunciation

The Quotations Page

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