Elocution Online Manual

Notes To accompany Audio & Video courses

www.elocutiononline.com

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Table of Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 6

Articulation Exercises ........................................................................................................................ 7

Articulation Exercises Sheet 1.................................................................................................... 7

Articulation Exercise Sheet 2 ...................................................................................................... 8

Articulation Exercise Sheet 3 ...................................................................................................... 9

Articulation sheet 4 ..................................................................................................................... 10

Articulation Exercise Sheet 5 ................................................................................................... 11




Articulation Exercise sheet 9 ................................................................................................... 15

Tongue Twisters ................................................................................................................................ 16

Tongue Twisters for Vowels .................................................................................................... 16

Tongue Twisters for Vowels 2 ................................................................................................ 17

Tongue Twisters for consonants ............................................................................................ 18

Tongue Twisters for TH Sheet 1 ......................................................................................... 19

Tongue Twisters for TH Sheet 2 ......................................................................................... 20

Tongue Twisters for S sound ................................................................................................... 21

Tongue Twisters for S sound sheet 2 ................................................................................ 22

Tongue Twisters for R ................................................................................................................ 23

Tongue Twisters 1 ....................................................................................................................... 24

Tongue Twisters 2 ....................................................................................................................... 26

Tongue Twisters 3 ....................................................................................................................... 27

Tongue Twisters 4 ....................................................................................................................... 29

Tongue Twisters 5 ....................................................................................................................... 31

Tongue Twisters 6 ....................................................................................................................... 32

Tongue Twisters 7 (Adults only) ........................................................................................... 33

Tongue Twisters 8 ....................................................................................................................... 35

Tongue Twisters 9 ....................................................................................................................... 36

Tongue Twisters 10..................................................................................................................... 37

Tongue Twisters 11..................................................................................................................... 38

Tongue Twisters 12..................................................................................................................... 40

Tongue Twisters 13..................................................................................................................... 41

1 to 10 Tongue Twisters ............................................................................................................ 42

Vowels ................................................................................................................................................... 43


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Short vowels ................................................................................................................................... 43

The in Man ................................................................................................................................. 43

The I of Sit ....................................................................................................................................... 44

The E of yes ..................................................................................................................................... 45

The of Not .................................................................................................................................... 46

The of put ..................................................................................................................................... 47

The of Cup .................................................................................................................................... 48

The of water ................................................................................................................................ 49

Vowels Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................. 50

E of Vet vs A of Vat ....................................................................................................................... 50

The of Uncle and the of Ankle......................................................................................... 51

Short vowel practice ................................................................................................................... 52

The i of Happy ................................................................................................................................ 53

The i of Happy 2 (Extra practice) ........................................................................................... 54

Vowels - Long................................................................................................................................. 55

The : of bird .................................................................................................................................. 55

The u: of you ................................................................................................................................... 56

The of law ................................................................................................................................... 57

The i: of me ..................................................................................................................................... 58

The a: of far ..................................................................................................................................... 59

Vowels - Dipthongs ...................................................................................................................... 60

The eI of Day................................................................................................................................... 60

The of No.................................................................................................................................... 61

The aI of Shine ............................................................................................................................... 62

The a of now................................................................................................................................. 63

The e of Air ................................................................................................................................... 64

The of here ................................................................................................................................. 65

The oy of boy .................................................................................................................................. 66

Diphthong practice ...................................................................................................................... 67

Diphthong practice 2 .................................................................................................................. 68

Diphthong practice 3 .................................................................................................................. 69

Vowel Charts .................................................................................................................................. 70

Vowel Chart 1 ................................................................................................................................ 70

Vowel Chart 2 ................................................................................................................................ 71

Vowel Chart 3 ................................................................................................................................ 72

Vowel Chart 4 ................................................................................................................................ 73


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Consonants .......................................................................................................................................... 74

The b of Bravo................................................................................................................................ 74

The d of Delta ................................................................................................................................. 75

The g of Golf .................................................................................................................................... 76

The h of Hotel................................................................................................................................. 77

The k of Kilo.................................................................................................................................... 78

The R of Romeo ............................................................................................................................. 79

The t of Tango ................................................................................................................................ 80

The p of Papa.................................................................................................................................. 81

The m of Mother ........................................................................................................................... 82

The n of November ...................................................................................................................... 83

The j of Yellow ............................................................................................................................... 84

The of king ................................................................................................................................... 85

ING Practice ......................................................................................................................................... 86

The f of Foxtrot .................................................................................................................................. 87

The s of Sierra ..................................................................................................................................... 88

The th in Thick ................................................................................................................................... 89

The th in The ....................................................................................................................................... 90

The V of Victor .................................................................................................................................... 91

The Z of Zebra..................................................................................................................................... 92

The Ch of Charlie ............................................................................................................................... 93

The SH of Shine & the SH Vision .................................................................................................. 94

The L of Love....................................................................................................................................... 95

The L of Full ......................................................................................................................................... 96

The w of Whiskey .............................................................................................................................. 97

The of Juliet.................................................................................................................................... 98

Lateral Release ................................................................................................................................... 99

The K of Key and the G of Girl .................................................................................................... 100

The T of Tie and the D of Door ................................................................................................... 101

The P of Pen and the B of Baby .................................................................................................. 102

The S of Sue and the Z of Zoo ...................................................................................................... 103

The f of Fast and the v of Vast..................................................................................................... 104

Distinguishing the difference practice sheet 1 .................................................................... 105

Distinguishing the difference practice sheet 2 .................................................................... 106

Most used words in English ........................................................................................................ 107

Top 1000 most use wor s in English (1 25) ........................................................... 107


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Top 1000 most use wor s in English (25 -50) ........................................................... 108

Top 1000 most used words (51-75) ................................................................................... 109

Top 1000 most used words (76 100) ............................................................................. 110

Top 1000 most used words (101 -125)............................................................................. 111

Top 1000 most used words (126-150) .............................................................................. 112

Top 1000 most used words (151 175) ........................................................................... 113




Ode to Autumn by J. Keats ........................................................................................................... 117

Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare.......................................................................................... 118

Song of a shirt by Thomas Hood................................................................................................ 119

If - BY RUDYARD KIPLING ........................................................................................................... 120


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Introduction We have provided this document to accompany our Audio and Video products, and for use with these products as a reference source. This document covers course work in detail, and can be used as stand-alone training material once the student has worked through the audio or video course at least once. As with most other things, frequent practice is important to achieve the needed results. To keep improving after finishing the course, we recommend the following;

- Start with a vocal warm-up - Do 1x Articulation exercise - 1x Consonant sound - 1x Tongue twister - 1x Vowel sound - Finish with a reading of your own choosing, or one of the few selections at the

end of this manual. Also try to put into practice what you have covered. We wish you all the best!


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Articulation Exercises

Articulation Exercises Sheet 1

FOO FOH FAW FER FAH FAY FEE FOW FI

VOO VOH VAW VER VAH VAY VEE VOW VI

SOO SOH SAW SER SAH SAY SEE SOW SI

ZOO ZOH ZAW ZER ZAH ZAY ZEE ZOW ZI

THOO THOH THAW THER THAH THAY THEE THOW THI

THOO THOH THAW THER THAH THAY THEE THOW THI


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Articulation Exercise Sheet 2

TOO TOH TAW TER TAH TAY TEE TOW TI

DOO DOH DAW DER DAH DAY DEE DOW DI

POO POH PAW PER PAH PAY PEE POW PI

BOO BOH BAW BER BAH BAY BEE BOW BI

KOO KOH KAW KER KAH KAY KEE KOW KI

GOO GOH GAW GER GAH GAY GEE GOW GI

NB: When practicing these sounds remember to really explore the plosive consonants and enjoy the long vowels. Try repeating each one 3 times and then create a word that contains that sound.


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OOT OHT AWT ERT AHT AYT EET OWT ITE

OOD OHD AWD ERD AHD AYD EED OWD IDE

OOP OHP AWP ERP AHP AYP EEP OWP IPE

OOB OHB AWB ERB AHB AYB EEB OWB IBE

OOK OHK AWK ERK AHK AYK EEK OWK IKE

OOG OHG AWG ERG AHG AYG EEG OWG IGE


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Articulation sheet 4

OOF OHF AWF ERF AHF AYF EEF OWF IFE

OOV OHV AWV ERV AHV AYV EEV OWV IVE

OOS OHS AWS ERS AHS AYS EES OWS ISE

OOZ OHZ AWZ ERZ AHZ AYZ EEZ OWZ IZE

OOTH OHTH AWTH ERTH AHTH AYTH EETH OWTH ITHE

OOTH OHTH AWTH ERTH AHTH AYTH EETH OWTH ITHE


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OOKT OHKT AWKT ERKT AHKT AYKT EEKT OWKT IKT

OOGD OHGD AWGD ERGD AHGD AYGD EEGD OWGD IGD

OOPT OHPT AWPT ERPT AHPT AYPT EEPT OWPT IPT

OOBD OHBD AWBD ERBD AHBD AYBD EEBD OWBD IBD

OOTHT OHTHT AWTHT ERTHT AHTHT AYTHT EETHT OWTHT ITHT

OOTHD OHTHD AWTHD ERTHD AHTHD AYTHD EETHD OWTHD ITHD


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OOST OHST AWST ERST AHST AYST EEST OWST IST

OOZD OHZD AWZD ERZD AHZD AYZD EEZD OWZD IZD

OOKST OHKST AWKST ERKST AHKST AYKST EEKST OWKST IKST

OOSKT OHSKT AWSKT ERSKT AHSKT AYSKT EESKT OWSKT ISKT

OOFT OHFT AWFT ERFT AHFT AYFT EEFT OWFT IFT

OOVD OHVD AWVD ERVD AHVD AYVD EEVD OWVD IVD


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OODST OHDST AWDST ERDST AHDST AYDST EEDST OWDST IDST

OOLST OHLST AWLST ERLST AHLST AYLST EELST OWLST ILST

OOPST OHPST AWPST ERPST AHPST AYPST EEPST OWPST IPST

OOMST OHMST AWMST ERMST AHMST AYMST EEMST OWMST IMST

OONST OHNST AWNST ERNST AHNST AYNST EENST OWNST INST

OOVST OHVST AWVST ERVST AHVST AYVST EEVST OWVST IVST


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These ones are quite tricky so be sure to take your time.

OOTST OHTST AWTST ERTST AHTST AYTST EETST OWTST ITST

OOTHST OHTHST AWTHST ERTHST AHTHST AYTHST EETHST OWTHST ITHST

OONTST OHNTST AWNTST ERNTST AHNTST AYNTST EENTST OWNTST INTST

OONDST OHNDST AWNDST ERNDST AHNDST AYNDST EENDST OWNDST INDST

OOLTST OHLTST AWLTST ERLTST AHLTST AYLTST EELTST OWLTST ILTST

OOLDST OHLDST AWLDST ERLDST AHLDST AYLDST EELDST OWLDST ILDST


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Articulation Exercise sheet 9

OOBLST OHBLST AWBLST ERBLST AHBLST AYBLST EEBLST OWBLST IBLST

OONGST OHNGST AWNGST ERNGST AHNGST AYNGST EENGST OWNGST INGST

OONKST OHNKST AWNKST ERNKST AHNKST AYNKST EENKST OWNKST INKST

OOKTST OHKTST AWKTST ERKTST AHKTST AYKTST EEKTST OWKTST IKTST

OOPTST OHPTST AWPTST ERPTST AHPTST AYPTST EEPTST OWPTST IPTST

OOSTST OHSTST AWSTST ERSTST AHSTST AYSTST EESTST OWSTST ISTST


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Tongue Twisters

Tongue Twisters for Vowels In order to improve pronunciation, learners may need to build up unused muscles in their mouths and build the habit of making sounds correctly. Repeat them three to five times daily. Start saying them

slowly and as your pronunciation improves, say them more quickly.

Betty Botter bought some butter, but she said This butters bitter, if I put it in my batter, it will make my batter bitter. So, she bought some better butter, better than

the bitter butter. When she put it in her batter, the butter made her batter better. So it was good that Betty Botter bought some better butter.

Gnats are not now gnawing on the nuts at night.

The sheep on the ship slipped on the sheet of sleet.

The keen king kissed the quick queen on her green ring.

Quite nice white mice.

How now brown cow?

The spoiled boy foiled the coy boys joy by purloining his toy.

Joe told a joke he wrote on his own.

I know thats not the note that Noel wrote.

The coat from the coast cost more than most.


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Tongue Twisters for Vowels 2

Make some fun, funky food and with some luck you can bake a kooky cookie or stew a stupid duck. You can look it all up in a cool cook book, or you can find a good excuse why you shouldnt have to cook.

There was a rude dude in the mood for food. Whenever he chewed we all viewed his food. The better the food, the more he chewed, so I served crude food to this rude

dude.

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood in a truck, would a woodchuck cluck while the wood was chucked?

Put the bad bat back in the bag.

It didnt faze the thief to thieve in my face.

He let himself be led to the place for the plays.

The man in the cap had a hat and a cap.


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Tongue Twisters for consonants Thirty thousand thirsty snakes thirstily drank three thousand lakes.

Whether the weather is cold, or whether the weather is hot, Well be together

whatever the weather, whether we like it or not.

Round and round the rugged rocks the raggedly rascal ran.

Little Lucy likes to lick lemon-lime lollypops.

Nice Nancy nibbles nervously on nuts.

Red lorry, yellow lorry (x3)

Little Red Riding Hood (x3)

Suzy sells seashells by the seashore where the sun shines on the shop signs.

Yellow Jell-O, cherry cheesecake, sweet sugar cookies and a chocolate chip shake.

(Be very careful with this one!!!) Im not a pheasant plucker, Im the pheasant

pluckers son, and Im only plucking pheasants until the pheasant pluckers come.

Theres a ban on vans at the curb by the curve.

Im very bad at volleyball, but very fine at basketball.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. Barney Babbitt bagged a bushel of big

blue berries.

We are very wary of wearing white woven wool. We wish to wear vivid violet velvet

vintage vests.


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Tongue Twisters for TH Sheet 1

(Dont forget to stick out your tongue every time you see a TH)

I thought, I thought of thinking of thanking you.

He threw three balls.

Tom threw Tim three thumbtacks.

He threw three free throws.

This is the sixth zebra snoozing thoroughly.

Nothing is worth thousands of deaths.

The seething sea ceaseth, thus the seething sea sufficeth us.

Thirty-three thousand people think that this Thursday is their thirtieth birthday.

Whether the weather be fineor whether the weather be not. Whether the weather be coldor whether the weather be hot.We'll weather the weather, whatever the

weather,whether we like it or not.


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Tongue Twisters for TH Sheet 2

(It is vital that your tongue is between your teeth on every single TH perhaps highlight each one and go

through them slowly, watching yourself in the mirror.)

The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.

Something in a thirty-acre thermal thicket of thorns and thistles thumped and

thundered threatening the three-D thoughts of Matthew the thug - although,

theatrically, it was only the thirteen-thousand thistles and thorns through the

underneath of his thigh that the thirty year old thug thought of that morning.

There those thousand thinkers were thinking how did the other three thieves go

through.

Elizabeth's birthday is on the third Thursday of this month.

Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew.While these fleas flew, freezy breeze

blew.Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze.Freezy trees made these trees'

cheese freeze.That's what made these three free fleas sneeze.

Thirty-three thirsty, thundering thoroughbreds thumped Mr. Thurber on Thursday.

Three short sword sheaths.


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Tongue Twisters for S sound

I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop. All day long she sits she shines, all day long

she shines she sits.

Denise sees the fleece,Denise sees the fleas.At least Denise could sneezeand feed

and freeze the fleas.

Sheena leads, Sheila needs.

Seth at Sainsbury's sells thick socks.

Six sick hicks nick six slick bricks with picks and sticks.

Stupid superstition!

If Stu chews shoes, should Stu choose the shoes he chews?

Seventy seven benevolent elephants

Santa's Short Suit Shrunk

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Six sleek swans swam swiftly southwards.


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Tongue Twisters for S sound sheet 2

She saw Sherif's shoes on the sofa. But was she so sure she saw Sherif's shoes on the

sofa?

Three short sword sheaths.

As I was in Sicily I saw a saw that could out saw any saw I ever saw saw. If you happen

to be in Sicily and see a saw that can out saw the saw I saw saw I'd like to see the saw

you saw saw.

Six slimy snails sailed silently.

Seven slick slimey snakes slowly sliding southward.

Singing Sammy sung songs on sinking sand.

Scissors sizzle, thistles sizzle.

Supposed to be pistachio,

Supposed to be pistachio,

Supposed to be pistachio.

Sounding by sound is a sound method of sounding sounds.

A slimy snake slithered down the sandy Sahara.


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Tongue Twisters for R

Richards really rock n roll.

Round the rugged rock the ragged rascal ran.

Rubber baby buggy bumpers, Rubber baby buggy bumpers, Rubber baby buggy bumpers.

Really leery, rarely lairy.

Raleigh, are you already ready? Are you really ready, Raleigh? Raleigh's really ready, Riley.

Riley, Raleigh's already ready!

Ritas rhinos reside on the right.


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Tongue Twisters 1

Tragedy strategy.

Six sharp smart sharks.

Strange strategic statistics.

Three free fleas

made three fleas free.

The blokes bikes back brake blocks broke.

Send toast to ten tense stout saints' ten tall tents.

Are you copper bottoming them, my man? No Im Aluminiuming them Maam.

Fresh fried fish,

Fish fresh fried,

Fried fish fresh,

Fish fried fresh.

Seven sleazy shysters in sharkskin suits sold sheared sealskins to seasick sailors.


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If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash,

And the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash,

And your data is corrupted cause the index doesnt hash,

Then your situations hopeless, and your systems gonna crash!


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Tongue Twisters 2

Selfish shellfish.

We shall surely see the sunshine soon.

Black background, brown background.

Frog feet, flippers, swimfins.

Sheena leads, Sheila needs.

On a lazy laser raiser lies a laser ray eraser.

How many sheets could a sheet slitter slit if a sheet slitter could slit sheets?

Agamemnon and Eminem, aluminium, linoleum, millennium and anemones.

There once was a man who had a sister, his name was Mr Fister. Mr Fisters sister sold

sea shells by the sea shore. Mr Fister didnt sell sea shells, he sold silk sheets. Mr

Fister told his sister that he sold six sheets to six shieks. The sister of Mr Fister said I

sold six shells to six shieks too!


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Tongue Twisters 3 Freshly-fried flying fish.

Unique New York, New York unique.

Mama made me mash my m & m's.

She stood upon the balustraded balcony,

inexplicably mimicking him hiccupping,

and amicably welcoming him in.

Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager

imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.

The epitome of femininity.

A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk,

but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.

If Peter Piper Picked a peck of pickled peppers,

Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?


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She sells seashells by the seashore.

The shells she sells are surely seashells.

So if she sells shells on the seashore,

I'm sure she sells seashore shells.

Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches?


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Tongue Twisters 4

(All short tongue twister should be repeated at least 3 times. Ideally at speed.)

Cheap ship trip

Flash message

Pacific lithograph

Girl gargoyle, guy gargoyle

A quick witted cricket Critic

If youre keen on stunning kites and cunning stunts,

buy a stunning, cunning stunt kite.

Lukes duck likes lakes. Luke Luck licks lakes. Lukes duck licks lakes. Duck takes licks in

lakes Luke Luck likes. Luke Luck takes licks in lakes duck likes.

She stood upon the steps of Burgess Fish Sauce Shop in the Strand, inexplicably

mimicking him hiccupping and amicably welcoming him in.


30

Out in the pasture the nature watcher watches the catcher. While the catcher

watches the pitcher who pitches the balls. Whether the temperatures up or whether

the temperatures down, the nature watcher, the catcher and the pitcher are always

around. The pitcher pitches, the catcher catches and the watcher watches. So

whether the temperature rises or whether the temperature falls, the nature watcher

just watches the catcher whos watching the pitcher whos watching the balls.


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Tongue Twisters 5

Red blood, green blood.

A lump of red leather, a red leather lump.

Extinct insects instincts, extant insects instincts.

This is a zither.

Plymouth sleuths thwart Luthers slithering.

There was a minimum of cinnamon in the aluminium pan.

Meet Mr Cecil Thistlethwaite, the celebrated theological statistician.

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,

And the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,

And the address of the memory makes floppy disk abort,

Then the socket packet pocket has an error to report.


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Tongue Twisters 6

Pox spots.

Peggy Babcock.

Red rubber, yellow leather.

Unique New York, New York unique.

Not sure whether its sweater weather or whether its leather weather.

Sheilas soldier had shoulder surgery.

Am I and Amy aiming anemic anemones on my many enemies?

If the label on the cable on the table at your house,

Says the network is connected to the button on your mouse,

But your packets want to tunnel on another protocol,

Thats repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall,

And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss,

So your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse,

Then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang,

Cause as sure as Im a poet, the suckers gonna hang!


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Tongue Twisters 7 (Adults only)

She said she should sit.

Shut up the shutters and sit in the shop.

She sits in her slip and sips Snapps.

Mrs Hunt had a country cut front in the front of her country cut petticoat.

Im not a pheasant plucker,

Im a pheasant pluckers son

But Ill be plucking pheasants

When the pheasant pluckers gone.

Tommy, Tommy, toiling in a tailors shop.

All day long he fits and tucks,

All day long he tucks and fits,

And fits and tucks, and tucks and fits,

And fits and tucks, and tucks and fits.

Tommy, Tommy toiling in a tailors shop.

Suzie, Suzie, sitting in a shoeshine shop.


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All day long she sits and shines,

All day long she shines and sits.

And sits and shines, and shines and sits,

And sits and shines, and shines and sits.

Suzie, Suzie, working in a shoeshine shop.

Mrs Puggy Wuggy had a square cut punt,

Not a punt cut square but a square cut punt.

It was round at the stern and blunt at the front.

Mrs Puggy Wuggy had a square cut punt.


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Tongue Twisters 8

Clean clams crammed in clean cans.

Seventy seven benevolent elephants.

Six stick shifts stuck shut.

One smart fellow, he felt smart, two smart fellows, they felt smart, three smart fellows

they all felt smart.

Rhys watched Ross switch his Irish wristwatch for a Swiss wristwatch.

Sheila is selling her shop at the seashore,

For shops at the seashore are so sure to lose.

Now shes not so sure of what she should be selling!

Should Sheila sell seashells or should she sell shoes?

Which witch switched the stitched switch for which the Swiss witch wished?

Ripe white wheat reapers reap ripe white wheat right.

When the copy of your floppys getting sloppy on the disk,

And the microcode instructions cause unnecessary risk,

Then you have to flash your memory and youll want to ram your rom.

Quickly turn off the computer and be sure to tell your son!


36

Tongue Twisters 9

The Leith Police dismisseth us, They thought we sought to stay.

The Leith Police dismisseth us, they thought wed stay all day.

The Leith Police dismisseth us, we both sighed sighs apiece

And the sighs that we sighed as we said goodbye were the size of the Leith Police.

I bought a batch of baking powder and baked a batch of biscuits.

I brought a big basket of biscuits back to the bakery and baked a batch of big biscuits.

Then I took the big baskets and the basket of big biscuits and mixed the big baskets

with the basket of biscuits that was next to the big basket and put a bunch of biscuits

from the baskets into a box. Then I took the box of mixed biscuits and a biscuit mixer

and the biscuit basket and

brought the basket of biscuits and the box of mixed biscuits and

the biscuit mixer back to the bakery and opened up a can of soup instead.


37

Tongue Twisters 10

Blue glue gun, green glue gun.

Ken Dodds dads dogs dead.

Short silk socks with pink silk spots.

Mrs Smith lisps as she talks and lists as she walks.

Sheath thy sword, the surly Sheriff said, or Surely shall a churlish serf soon shatter

thee.

Give me the gift of a grip-top sock,

A clip drape shipshape tip top sock.

Not your spinslick slapstick slipshod stock,

But a plastic, elastic grip-top sock.

None of your fantastic slack swop slop,

From a slap dash flash cash haberdash shop.

Not a knick knack knitlock knockneed knickerbocker sock

With a mock-shot blob-mottled trick-ticker top clock.

Not a supersheet seersucker rucksack sock,

Not a spot-speckled frog-freckled cheap sheiks sock

Off a hodge-podge moss-blotched scotch-botched block.

Nothing slipshod drip drop flip flop or glip glop

Tip me to a tip top grip top sock.


38

Tongue Twisters 11

Six twin screwed steel steam cruisers.

A nurse anaesthetist unearthed a nest.

No shipshape ships shop stock shop-soiled shirts.

National Shropshire Sheep Association.

Raise Ruths red roof.

Six short skirts, seven smart shirts.

Does this shop sport short socks with spots?

Amidst the mists and coldest frosts,

With stoutest wrists and loudest boasts,

He thrusts his fists against the posts,

And still insists he sees the ghosts.

A tree toad loved a she-toad

Who lived up in a tree.

He was a two-toed tree toad


39

But a three-toed tree toad was she.

The two-toed tree toad tried to win

The three-toed she-toads heart,

For the two-toed tree toad loved the ground

That the three-toed tree toad trod.

But the two-toad tree toad tried in vain.

He couldnt please her whim.

From her tree toad bower

With her three-toad power

The she-toed vetoed him.


40

Tongue Twisters 12

Greek grapes (3x)

Toy phone (3x)

Quick kiss (3x)

Aluminium (3x)

Three free throws (3x)

Kitty caught the kitten in the kitchen.

Give papa a proper cup of coffee in a copper coffee cup.

A tricky frisky snake with sixty super scaly stripes.

Zero zebras zigzagged into the zoo.

Peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.


41

Tongue Twisters 13

Each Easter Eddie eats eighty Easter eggs.

One-one was a race horse.Two-two was one too.One-one won one race.Two-two

won one too.

Six slimy snails sailed silently.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

How many cookies could a good cook cook, If a good cook could cook cookies?A good

cook could cook as much cookies as a good cook who could cook cookies.

A big black bear sat on a big black bug.

If two witches would watch two watches,which witch would watch which watch?

If you notice this notice, you will notice that this notice is not worth noticing.


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1 to 10 Tongue Twisters

1 Fat Hen

2 Couple of Ducks

3 Brown Bears

4 Running Hares

5 Fat Females Fixing for a Fight

6 Sicilian Seamen who Sailed the 7 Seas

7 Shiny Sea Shells, She Sells on the Sea Shore

8 Elongated Elephants being Elevated on Escalators

9 Nimbled Nosed Ninjas Know 9 Nimbled toed Ninjas

10 Two Ton, Two Toned, Transcontinental Trucks Travelling from Tennessee to Texas

on 10 tanks of Texico and 22 Terrible Tyres.


43

Vowels

Short vowels

The in Man

This is a short vowel sound. The back of the tongue should be low. Try to have a slight smile and open the mouth wide. Its important to make a distinction from the sound e of egg, which has a higher back of

the tongue position.

Read these words: Mass Bad Had Clammy Apple Ago Black Flat Paddle Land Hand Mat Cat Sad Bag Fad Glad Dad Lad Tad Saddle

Sample sentences:

An angry Captain sprang from the plank and swam to the land.

The cat went splat, flat on the mat.

A mass of angry apples made the bad lad sad.

It made Dad glad to be in a one man band.


44

The I of Sit

Practise the ee of sheep sound, now open the mouth a little wider. The I of sit is a short, relaxed sound.

Read these words: Film Kit Sixty Building Isnt Interesting Din Busy Business Singer Conspiracy Women Ring Diploma Sympathy Divorce Physics Mini Genuine Indigestion Gymnastics Mischievous Pretty Hippy Kin Antidote Biscuit Political Witty Nippy Fitness Read these sentences aloud:

Lyn knew she would win in her mini as it was the nippiest car.

Women gymnasts are pretty hip and at the peak of their fitness.

This isnt an interesting film but a diplomatic documentary.

Nick had the antidote to the poisonous biscuits that Kit ate.


45

The E of yes

First practice the sound i of in. Then open your mouth a little more to say the e of yes. Notice that the back of the tongue is in a high position.

Read these words aloud:

Left Everybody Egg Friend Pen Ended Better Jelly Mend Expensive Lend Spend Sending Shelf Intense Flexible Help Fence Pest Belligerent Elephant Talentless Express Confess

Read these sentences aloud:

Geoff was the best elephant for helping to mend the fence.

Everyone took a set exam to test and stretch his or her minds.

The tense hen sensed that Ben had kept her best pen.

Elle Egg expressed her wish to befriend Jelly Jennifer.


46

The of Not

The tongue is drawn back and lies low. The sound is similar to the a of ball, but much shorter. The lips are less protruding.

Read these words: Job Mock Block Pocket Got Dolly Lots Rock Topic Smock Cauliflower Pond Frock Dock Proxy Forgot Sausage Topping Monster Frog Read these sentences aloud:

Lotty locked her frog in the closet because he was a monster.

The doctor forgot that hed a sausage and dolly mixtures in his pocket.

There are many topical jobs involving rocks and smocks.

Drop the block and lock the box, Rob a stock and stop the clocks.

Drop the tomato, not the potato, Lock the window, say hello!


47

The of put

First practice the er of bird sound. Now raise the back of the tongue a little. U is a short, relaxed sound.

Read these words: Bush Bushel Bulletin Sugar Wood Look Brook Good Butcher Hook Nook Wolf Read these sentences:

The wolf hid in the bush by the brook.

He took the good book for good luck.

They shook sugar shakers in all the nooks and crannies.


48

The of Cup

This is a short vowel sound. First practice the a of hat. Then put your tongue up and back a little. Close your mouth a little.

Read these words: Money Up Sunk Dozen Wonderful Muddy Sudden Gut Funk Culpable Done Onions Mundane Fuzzy Grunt Jumble Comfortable Guzzle Mumble Read these Sentences aloud:

The monk sunk a dozen onions suddenly.

Mr Bumble can guzzle greens and mumble simultaneously.

A funky punk found money mundane yet wonderful.

He was held culpable for multiple comfort stops.


49

The of water

This is a short vowel sound. This is a very common sound called a Schwa. To make this sound you simply relax your mouth.

These are some examples of common words that change to contain a schwa when said

within certain sentences:

A Of That

Examples: A cup of tea becomes A cuppa tea It was all that he wanted


The Banana Water About Accuse Father Weather Cuppa Common Never Abusive Mother Clever Brother Endeavour Appraisal Account Splendiferous Adorable Glamorous Pious


The crazy weather made my brothers bananas grow glamorously.

Trevor never once said I was clever throughout my appraisal.

My mother said that Nana led a pious life.

Victorias father liked a cuppa and a banana after dinner.


50

Vowels Miscellaneous

E of Vet vs A of Vat Now read these pairs of words. Repeat each pair three times. Distinguish clearly between the a and e sound.

Ten, tan Then, than

Guess, gas Led, lad

Said, sad Text, taxed

Gem, jam Fellow, fallow

Adept, adapt Bet, bat

Men, man Vet, vat Fret, frat Pet, pat Set, sat Met, mat


Ten men tried to tan by their tents.

Jen found a gem in her jam.

Sid said he felt sad.

Pete liked to pat his pets.

Right men I need one brave man.

Lyn led the lad home.

Everyone sat where their placemats were set.


51

The of Uncle and the of Ankle

Now read these pairs of words. Repeat each pair three times. Distinguish clearly between the and sound.

Uncle, ankle

Bunk, bank

Cup, cap

Dunk, dank

Fun, fan

Mutt, mat

Nut, gnat

Rut, rat

Sudden, sadden

Tut, tat


The banks shut their doors to funny tap dancing cats.

Tanya gave a tut as the tit for tat increased.

Dan was done when Stanley suddenly stopped running.

Gnats love nuts and are big fans of fun.

Wipe your feet on the mutt mat and grab a cup cap.

My uncles ankle broke as he fell over a rat in a rut.


52

Short vowel practice

It is important that your short vowels are easy to distinguish from one another. The

two that prove most difficult to distinguish between are the O and U sound, pay particular attention to these.

(e, ,, I, )

En, un, an, in, on

Ten, ton, tan, tin, tonic

Ben, bun, ban, bin, bon

Sense, sun, sand, sin, sock

Wed, won, wag, win, wad

Den, done, Dan, din, dog

Lend, lunch, land, linen, lock

Pen, pun, pan, pin, pot

Fen, fun, fan, fin, font

Men, money, man, mini, monster

Wren, run, ran, ring, rod

Get, gut, gap, giddy, got

Hen, hun, hand, hip, hop

Ken, cut, can, kit, cot,

Neck, nut, nap, nip, knot


53

The i of Happy

This is a short vowel sound. Similar to the i: of Sheep only shorter. Again I always feel

a smile helps the placement of this sound.


Happy Glorious Lovely Angrily Bendy Radiate Celebrate Rarely Shamefully Victorious Lily Teddy Reluctantly Funny Honey Freddy Nauseous Ready Steady Elephant Needy


Nelly the elephant wasnt ready to be glorious.

Jenny rarely celebrates with lovely Lily, which is silly.

Freddy felt nauseous eating a runny honey sarnie, which his mummy made.

Daisy felt happy and glorious everyday in everyway.


54

The i of Happy 2 (Extra practice)

Practice these words aloud:

Ideally Really Conspiracy Silly

Witty Happy Secretly Tenderly

Professionally Necessarily Hypocrisy Pity Read these poems aloud: Willy was a silly billy, He only wore shirts that were frilly. But Willy wasnt so witty, Wearing silly, frilly shirts in the city. Lizzy was always busy and grumpy, Lucy wanted to make Lizzy happy, So Lucy bought Lizzy a Kitty. Lizzy loved Kitty, Till Kitty ate Lizzys Lillies. Oh Kitty! What a pity!


55

Vowels - Long

The : of bird

The : sound can appear in words as ir, er, ea, ur and or. Start by sounding the short

vowel E (as in Elephant), then without moving the tongue too much relax the month in to a neutral position and make the hesitation sound ER.

Sample words: Burn Bird Birthday Certain Circle Curb Dirty Firm Flirt Her Hurt Girl Heard Journey Learn Merger Murder Shirt Thursday Stir Surface Search Stern Skirt Turn Thirsty Thirty Urban Word Work World Worth Sample sentences:

A nervy bird heard that there was no work on Thursday.

The urban world surfaced on the girls birthday.

Bert was certain that his words were firm.

Myrtle felt hurt after falling up the curb and landing in the dirt.


56

The u: of you

This long vowel sound is produced with gently rounded lips and the back of the tongue

raised but not touching the roof of the mouth. Sample words: You Whose Attitude Cartoon Flew Shoe Do Manoeuvre View Use Food Juice Route Rebuke Suit Absolute Assume Tomb Avenue Consume Shoot Due Dilute Institute Sample sentences:

June was over the moon due to her new blue shoes.

Its stupid to assume that you can consume food using a broom.

Winnie the pooh is a cartoon I love to view in the afternoon.

Which route should I use to get to Institute Avenue?


57

The of law

This long vowel sound is produced with the back of the tongue raised but not touching

the roof of the mouth and with the lips rounded off.

Sample words: Law Floor Awful Boring

Water Warning Sure Bengal Store More Door Broad Saunter Sport Pour Ought Claw Four Short Bought

Sample sentences:

Are you sure my daughter has been caught up in the war?

The law ought to sort all the awfully short forks, that are bought in Bengal for four claws and much more.

There are forty four mortified walkers.


58

The i: of me

This is the longer version of i (hit). The mouth is open slightly and the middle of the

tongue is high, touching the roof of the mouth.

Sample words: Tree Monkey Beans Pizza Receive Me Gangrene Peanuts Field Feel Media Meeting Teacher Magazine Lean Penalise Legal Serene Coffee Senile Ski Sample sentences:

Janine could see from the tree the bees feeding in the fields.

You should read todays magazine about peanuts curing gangrene.

Minnies teacher seemed to screech like a senile monkey.

The media made this meeting seem serene and dreamy.


59

The a: of far

The mouth is wide open and the tongue lies down and flat. Imagine you are visiting

the Doctor and he asks you to open wide and say AH.

Sample words: Ask Example Giraffe Pass Father Pyjamas Laugh Carpet Arts Dance Fast Star Dark Craft Mask Advance Sample Afternoon Task Answer Bath Hard Last Branch Sample poem:

Do you laugh when you dance in the bath? Do you ask to wear a mask in a photograph?

Is this car the star of the afternoon? Or the last of your tasks before the passing moon?

N.B: I often ask my students to open their mouths wide enough to place two or three fingers between their teeth whilst practicing this sound.


60

Vowels - Dipthongs

The eI of Day

A moving vowel (diphthong); starting with the short e sound (egg) and moving into the i: sound (see). Start by repeating these two short vowels e and i:. Then slowly start to merge them in to a flowing sound. Try to keep this sound whilst practicing the sample

sentences.

Sample words:

Say Paper Tape Tasty Daytime Mistake

Shake Make Ignoramus

Away Take Conversation

Change Maple Flavour Convey Chaos Painstaking

Ultimatum Safe Verbatim

Asia

Sample sentences:

Today was the day that Faye would get away to Asia.

Taste testing the flavour of maple syrup is a painstaking task.

Ray knew the best way to convey the change was through casual conversation.

Leila would say that taping paper was a mistake for James the ignoramus.


61

The of No

is a diphthong vowel sound. It begins with the sound and then moves into the sound. You should see your lips rounding off into a circle throughout this sound.

Read these words aloud: Mosquito Piano Yellow Tomato Blows Window Swallow Throw Toe Poke Smoke Groan Hello Boat Though Although Moaning Widow Clothe Memo Memento Read these sentences aloud:

Joan needed to know if the mosquito was turning yellow.

Although his woes were many he painted a crow on his boat.

Joe didnt know his memo had caused such memento.

Thats not the note that Noel wrote but a joke Joe wrote on his own.


62

The aI of Shine

This is a diphthong (it has two sounds). Open your mouth wide to start with and say

AH (like you would at the doctors), then smile into the EE sound (like in the word Me). After practicing those sounds separately try to join them together. Ah-Ee.

Read these words: Behind Ice Like Night Diamond Silence Typewriter Right Riding My Wine Digest Life Lying Finite Time Height Ideal Lie Cried Library Biography Goodbye Dilate Tribunal Wide Why Read these sentences:

Why did the shy guy lie all the time?

She liked the silence of the night whilst riding her bike.

My life is spent trying to buy finite wine and saying goodbyes.

From behind the library appeared wide, which made me cry as it was not ideal.


63

The a of now

This is a diphthong sound, meaning it is two vowels sounds together. The shape of the mouth will change throughout this sound. Starting with an open a sound and closing

into a rounded (ooo) sound.

Read these words aloud: How Now Brown Cow Sour Flour

Empower Tower Sound Fowl Owl Mouth Loud Lout Pout Shout Wow Shower Bow Crowd Rowdy Read these sentences aloud:

How now brown cow?

The rowdy crowd were shouting extremely loud.

The fowl brown owl bowed and pouted, wowing the crowd.

Now the sour lout took a shower in the tower and felt empowered.


64

The e of Air

First practice the e of yes. Now close your mouth a little. The a of airy is a long sound. Move your tongue up a little as you say it.

Read these words out loud: Airy Hair Scary Mary

Fairy Their Flair Canary

Dared Tear Pair Wear

Librarians Care Debonair Stairs Bear Lair Air Share Pears Despair Read these sentences out loud:

Mary was swishing her hair and dancing in an airy-fairy manner.

He dared to tear in there, ascending the stairs, despite my despair.

Librarians have little care to share the bears lair.


65

The of here

A diphthong sound beginning with the I of in and moving into the schwa sound ().

Read these words aloud: Here Near Clear Fear Weary Cheerful Bleary Dear Earring Seared Merely Peering Pier Queer Beard Jeer Hearing Gear Leery Rear Tearful Veer Yearly Read these Sentences aloud:

Every year she came here to buy a cheerful pair of earrings.

It was queer how the car veered to the left after changing gear.

The deer was fearful as he could hear the bearded hunter coming near.

Her bleary eyes told of the tears that shed shed.


66

The oy of boy

This diphthong sound begins with the OR (More) sound and finishes with the EE (Me)

sound. Sample words: Joyful Boy Employ Joint Poignant Foil Spoil Royal Loyalty Soya Toy Alloy Annoying Lion Avoidance Sample sentences:

Lloyd was loyal to the royals.

The coy boy avoided the tender loin.

Annoyingly joy employed only joyful boys.

Soya wrapped in foil can spoil your joints.


67

Diphthong practice

Read these paragraphs aloud, paying close attention to the words which contain the diphthong sounds. Be sure to take it slowly at first to make sure you slide through the

two vowels sounds within each diphthong.

Poor Leah, really wasnt clear.

Had she seen a man with a spear, and did he truly have only one ear? Perhaps it was

mearly a deer and not something Leah need fear. Either way she felt weary and her

eyes were growing bleary.

So she decided to smear on her face cream and wear her sheer black dress, as this

always filled Leah with cheer.

Its not that I dont care to share your wares.

In fact, I cant help but stare at that portrait over there.

The one with the hair and lots of flare.

Is it one of a pair?

Sell them to me, if you dare and I shall hang them in a bare room somewhere.


68

Diphthong practice 2

Who now is allowed to frown before the crowned cow?

How does the sow mouth the word ciao without making a sound?

No answers have I found in heaven or on the ground.

Go to town to pick up the brown sound system please.

Then fix the power shower and water the flowers. The dogs might cower below the

plough for now but if you know how to cook chow mien they will come out.


69

Diphthong practice 3

My guy never lies, but buys me surprises,

Like fine china and my favourite wine.

Some state that some days in May,

Kate will say shameful things,

Making her inmates shake with fear.

Shy Simon climbs high and sighs as he watches

the birds fly by. Why cant I fly like the birds? he cried.

You may have to wait to meet your soul mate,

as fate will decide the date


70

Vowel Charts

Vowel Chart 1

I as in Ill E as in Egg

A as in Apple U as in Put O as in On

No. 1

I E U A O

I E U O A

I E A U O

I E A O U

I E O U A

I E O A U


71

Vowel Chart 2


A as in Apple U as in Cup O as in On

I U E A O

I U E O A

I U A E O

I U A O E

I U O E A

I U O A E


72

Vowel Chart 3


A as in Apple U as in Put O as in On

I A E U O

I A E O U

I A U E O

I A U O E

I A O E U

I A O U E


73

Vowel Chart 4


A as in Apple U as in Cup O as in On

I O E U A

I O E A U

I O U E A

I O U A E

I O A E U

I O A U E


74

Consonants

The b of Bravo

This is a plosive sound produced by pressing the lips together creating a little pressure and releasing. N.B: dont fold the lips in when pressing them together. Do try to make

this sound sharp like a drum.

Read these words aloud: Badminton Barracks Beautiful Berry Bible Bumble Booking Barricade Business Busy Briefcase Butter Bloated Abstract Capable Hub Bitter Backwards Banker Behind Believe Benefit Belittle Beneath Read these sentences aloud:

Bankers benefit from believing in busy businessmen.

Bitter Benjamin believed hed been belittled by beautiful Bobby.

Bradley Bumble booked a business trip to Brighton.

The bees on the barracks lived beneath the boys bunks.


75

The d of Delta

This is a plosive sound produced by pressing the tip of the tongue against the alveolar ridge, creating a little pressure and then releasing. The tongue should not touch the

teeth. Practice making this sound percussive.

Read these words aloud: Dark Dance Daughter Deep

Depth Dear Demented Desk

Dentist Detrimental Dog Do Dont Dotty Doddle Doodle Door Dolly Drained Drought

Dragged Drape Drone Dunk Read these sentences aloud:

Desmond didnt dare dis the dentists demented dog.

The dodgy door in the dark dank dining room did cause a draught.

Darling Derek doodled and danced during the daytime.

Dexter dragged a dirty, dusty dolly from Deptford to Dundee.


76

The g of Golf

This is a plosive sound produced by raising the back of the tongue and pressing it

against the soft palate, creating pressure and then releasing with a voiced g. As with all the plosive sounds try to make this as percussive as you can.

Read these words aloud: Gate Game Great Wig Gains Grid Gargoyle Grass Green Given Gown Girl Giggle Glossy Growing Glasses

Aggravate Again Going Golf Guy Grab Regret Grey


Graham the gargoyle gave golf in Gothenburg a go, again.

Gertrude regretted getting a green and glossy gown.

Guy was great at aggravating grey haired girls by giving them wigs.

Gavin created a great game of grids and gates on grass.


77

The h of Hotel

The H in English is an aspirate sound, which means it is a breathy sound. We produce it with a relaxed throat and it should sound smooth and unconstructed. Practice just

sighing out with a small HHH AHHH sound.

Read these words aloud: Hello How Him Her He High Home House Who Heater Hem Hotel Heavy Have Here Hero Hand Help Happy Hefty Hindrance Hiccups Hate Hissed Read these Sentences aloud:

Henry heard the hissing snake halt near his house.

Hilary was happy to receive help for her hiccups.

Hugo hadnt handed in his homework on time.

Henrietta saw him as a hindrance rather than a hero.

The hefty heifer hated hurling hedgehogs.


78

The k of Kilo

This is a plosive sound produced by raising the back of the tongue and pressing it against the soft palate, creating pressure and then releasing with a K. As with all the

plosive sounds try to make this as percussive as you can.

Read these words aloud: Can Cat Cow Could Cope Cancel Count Cake Cooking Kitchen Kitten Kite Craze Kit Kick Clock Coat Catch Call Kind Mask Flask Asked Tasks Read these sentences aloud:

Kate had to take her kitten bed cover to the cleaners.

Kevin asked which task he could complete in the kitchen.

Crazy cats cant cope with cows kicking them at dusk.

Copper kettles can cause catastrophic catastrophes on campsites.


79

The R of Romeo

This sound is achieved with the back of the tongue high and then the tip of the tongue turned upwards (without touching the roof of the mouth), it is NOT to be sounded like

the V of W sounds. The R sound is only sounded when it appears before a vowel.

Practice the following words:

Red Roll Rock Ran

Read Wrote Write Rise Really Prone Throne Crone

Rome Shrine Reporting Secret

Proud Secretary Resurrect Respect Three Thrive Threat Tree


Riley ran from Reading to Rochdale in ridiculous red shoes.

Richards reading and writing really riled Rachels rat Rodney.

Three trees proudly rocked while rain raised the river levels.

The ratty secretary resurrected the reading files for Mr Ridley.


80

The t of Tango

This is a plosive sound produced by pressing the tip of the tongue against the alveolar ridge (just behind the top teeth), creating a little pressure and the releasing. Practice

making this sound percussive.

Read these words aloud: Take Tape Tick Tiger

Tickle Tipped Tipsy Treacle Tread Trod Trot Attitude Topping Trifle Epitomize Teabag Tiptoe Train Track Tint Timetable Trash Trainer Tactile


Tommy toyed with terrible ideas from ten till two.

Tyler tagged Trish striking a tarty pose in Trinidad back in 2002.

The train track had been treated to tackle the treacherous ice trouble.

Thomas the timid tiger chewed trainers and tyres and had a terrible attitude.


81

The p of Papa

This is a plosive sound produced by pressing the lips together, creating a little pressure

and then releasing. Be careful not to fold the lips in but simply press them together. Practice making this sound percussive.

Read these words aloud: Papa Pay Partake Paper Price Piece Place Pound Pipe Pincushion Pastry Pie

Deportation Precedent Proportion Pig Pencil Prime Popped Report Propagate Propaganda Pirate Private


Peter purchased plenty of pink paperclips for Pollys party.

Percy put piles of pencils and papers in inappropriate places.

Pecan pastries are perfect when paired with piping hot coffee.

Penguins partake in practicing passing popcorn to avoid deportation.


82

The m of Mother

This is a nasal sound, which means no air should escape through the mouth. Simply

press your lips together and sound the mmm.

Read these words aloud: Me Mine My More Mum Make Move Mature Middle Meat Meeting Mediate Mention Master Mashing Missing Sum Simple Limitation Lime Farm Affirmative Aim Blame Read these sentences aloud:

Michael meant to meet Mr McIntyre much later by McDonalds.

Lemon and lime mashed into meat makes a mean meal.

His mother mentioned that Matthew had moved to the farm to mature.

Simple sums, like times tables make Maths more fun.


83

The n of November

This is a nasal sound, which means no air should escape through the mouth. Simply

press the front of your tongue up on to the ridge (just behind the top teeth) and sound a nnnn. Make sure the air is coming through your nose and not your mouth.

Read these words aloud: No Now Naughty Need Night Knight Not Never Neither Norway Nearby Internet Nippy Endanger Mean Senile When Ten Ninety Nana Granny Nostalgic Neapolitan Next Read these sentences aloud:

That night Nelly knew not to nod knowingly at Ned.

The knights of Norway endangered not only their gnomes.

Granny neither felt nostalgic nor sentimental in the nursing home.

Norris snarled nastily at Nana.


84

The j of Yellow

Start by saying the word EYE. As you form the end of this word you should find the back of your tongue in a high position, close to the roof of your mouth. See if you can

hold this sound and create a buzzing sensation within your mouth.

Practice these words aloud (be sure to pronounce the j sound, ideally with the buzzing sensation):

Yellow Young Yoke Yet

You Your York Yearn

Yoyo Yemen Muse Music

Beautiful New Stew Few

Queue Union Huge Use

University United Yoghurt Yak


Yasmine of York yearned to hear the music of yesteryear.

Youre too young to create a new university student union.

The beauty of the yellow yoyo united Yorkshire.

There were few in Yemen who knew the true uses of the huge yak.

N.B. My Spanish speaking students tend to make the Y sound like a J, using the front and middle of the tongue against the roof of the mouth instead of the back of the

tongue. In this case we found the sounding an EE first helped. For example: EE Yes, EE Yellow, EE You, EE Yak.


85

The of king

The sound is a nasal sound produced by raising the back of the tongue high to meet the soft palate; which any air escaping through the mouth. Whenever is at the end

of a word then we do not sound the plosive g. When appears in the middle of a word then we sometimes release the following plosive.

Read these words aloud; do NOT sound the plosive g: King Sing Wing Something Walking Running Dancing Fling Long Song Ping Pong Talking Flying Singer Hanger Read these words aloud; DO sound the following plosives: Sink Think Wink Stink Finger Anger Longer Stronger Read these sentences aloud:

I sing a song whilst dancing at the sink.

Is the strong man stronger than the Ping-Pong king?

Theres something about running that angers Nathan.

The singer broke her finger on a dodgy coat hanger.


86

ING Practice

This sound should be created by the back of the tongue touching the roof of the mouth and forcing the sound to come out of the nose. The G should not be kicked.

Walking and running and leaping.

Sitting and resting and snoozing and sleeping.

Smiling and laughing,

Singing and dancing.

It doesnt matter what youre doing,

As long as youre enjoying.

If a King could swing would he sing as he swung?

If a King could do anything would he fling around his tongue?

Would he ring, would he ding or would he wear bling?

What would you do if you were king?


87

The f of Foxtrot

This is a fricative sound, meaning it makes a hissing sound. Gently place your lower lip against your upper teeth and blow.

Read these words aloud: Foxtrot Fire Free Far Fear Phantom File Feel Friday From Funny Feet Front Field Funding Festival Afraid Graft Gift Left Lift Fringe Female Flashy Read these sentences aloud:

Five females felt funny after flashing on a farm.

Freddy knew the front was too far for Phillip to walk.

Fido was afraid of fireworks so Frank kept him in the flat.

Geoff felt fed up at the festival after his Ferrari caught fire.


88

The s of Sierra

The S sound is produced with the front of the tongue pressed up to the ridge of the mouth leaving a small gap for air to pass through. Its important that the tongue is not touching the back of the teeth. Voiceless Ss appear at the beginning of words, when a

word contains a double s (Glass), when an S appears between two vowel sounds, before a voiceless consonant (Ask) and after a voiceless consonant at the end of a word

(Cats). However there are many exceptions to these rules. Read these words aloud:

Sun Sing Yes Hiss

This Miss Start Nurse

Seep Secret Sign Swimming

Horse Seaside Saturday Cycle

Sarcastic Acid Pace Sincere Obstacle Ask Aspirin

Read these words aloud being sure that you hit the S twice:

Asks Masks Mists Desks

Disks Grasps Fasts Requests

Wasps Ghosts Forests Protests

Risks Thrusts Fists Posts

Nests Sets Artists

Read these sample sentences aloud:

Simple Simon saw seven silvery masks shimmering.

Sheila & Sheena sat surreptitiously spying on Sam & Sid.

Shearing sheep scares the sheep from the sheds.

Scan Sams ship for squid and shrimp.


89

The th in Thick

Put your TONGUE between your teeth, blow air out between the tongue and upper teeth. Practise the difference between a voiced and unvoiced TH sound.

Read these words aloud (This is the unvoiced TH sound): Thick Thought Think Thank Three Thousand Thirty Thirsty Bath Path Mouth South Birthday Worth Thursday Mirth Read this passage, it contains many UNVOICED TH sounds: Ruth the crocodile had a throbbing toothache, Shed had it since her birthday on Thursday last week. Theo the thoughtful thundercat thought someone should look in Ruths mouth. Ruth had accidentally eaten the last thirty three dentists So she knew she would have difficulty finding someone brave enough.


90

The th in The Read these words aloud (This is the voiced TH sound): The These Those Them Weather Leather Breathe Either Neither Rather Father Mother Brother Gather Together This

Read this passage, it contains many Voiced TH sounds: There were feathers all over the house, And even though it was my brothers fault I knew my mother would shout at us both. So together, my father, my brother and I Cleared it all up.


91

The V of Victor

The V sound is a fricative sound produced when air passes between the lower lip and the upper teeth. It is a voice sound and should vibrate. Try holding a long V until you

can feel a vibration on your lower lip.


Vac Vail Vain Vampire Ventilation Vine Visitor Vitals Voice Avoid Vodka Volume Vomit Vowel Voyage Vulgar Read these sample sentences:

Victor visited his vibrant Aunt Vivian.

It's vital that vampires always avoid vodka.

Victoria was vocally vulgar to the ventilation man.

Volcanoes gain victory over vacuums.


92

The Z of Zebra

The Z sound is produced with the front of the tongue pressed up to the ridge of the mouth leaving a small gap for air to pass through. Its important that the tongue is not

touching the back of the teeth. Z is basically a voiced S sound. An s is sounded as a Z when it appears before and after a voiced consonant (Husband)(Dogs). However there

are many exceptions to these rules. Try holding a long Z sound in order to feel the vibration on the roof of your mouth.

Read these words aloud: Zags Zany Zap Zeal Zebra Zest Zoo Zucchini Lazy Laser Buzz Busy Fizz As Easy Knows Read these sample sentences aloud:

Zebras laze around the zoo on hazy days.

A zany buzzard buzzed like a bee.

Zac knows his nose needs laser treatment.

Zippis zippy zipper zips.


93

The Ch of Charlie

Ch is a mixture of a fricative and a plosive. Your tongue should start in the SH position. Then you release a fricative T sound.


Charlie Chant Chance Cheeky Chart Chilli Chap Church Butcher Lunch Cherry Latch Checked Chuck Cheap Chirp Read these sample sentences aloud:

Charlie chose to check his check list himself.

Cheeky chimpanzees chirp loudly at the sight of chips.

Cherrys butcher was a grouchy chap at lunchtime.


94

The SH of Shine & the SH Vision

To help you find the SH position, begin by making the S sound, then put the lips into a puckered position. As with other fricative sounds, there is a voiced and voiceless

version.

Read these words using the voiceless SH sound: Shame Shudder Shake Shopping Shift Shampoo Cushion Tension Assured Potion Addiction Prediction Chandelier Beautician Machine Blusher Patience Anxious Fruition Push Flush Tissue Surety Fishing Read these pairs, making a clear difference between the SH and S sound: Shine, Sign Show, Sow Sure, Saw Shame, Same Shave, Save Ship, Sip Chivalry, Civil Shingle, Single Shopping, Sopping Shake, Sake Shank, Sank Shins, Sins Read these words using the voiced SH sound: Television Fusion Pleasure Treasuring Measured Massage Casual Seizure


95

The L of Love

The light L sound is created by placing the tip of the tongue on the ridge of the mouth and releasing the L. This version of the L tends to appear more often at the beginnings of words but does sometimes appear in the middle or at the end.

Read these words aloud: Love Like Lucy Liam Little Lake Light Length Lemon Low Alone Alligator Lily Loaf Literature Ligament Lioness Leotard Listening Loiterer Read these sentences aloud:

Lesley loathed loitering at length in London.

Likable alligators listened to Lucy lying on lemons.

Little Liam loved lily-patterned leotards.

Leave Lenny at the lake alone with his literature.


96

The L of Full

The dark L sound is created by the tip of the tongue touching the ridge as well as the back of the tongue being raised. These appear usually at the end of a word or before a

consonant.

Read these words aloud: Full Frail Flail Bill Mull Seal Film Milk Pool Little Guild Build Steal Puddle Medal Bell Read these sentences aloud:

Seals shall steal shells from the pool.

Bill the bull was in the builders guild.

If you feel frail sit in the middle of a little puddle.

A subtle seagull shines his medals and rings his bells.


97

The w of Whiskey

A short sound produced by rounding the lips. Practice putting your finger into your mouth and bringing the corners of your mouth in to touch your finger.

Read these words aloud (be sure to round the lips when sounding the W): Want Will When Where Work Wave Weak Why Woman Queen Swept Weeping Squat Twice Twitter Anguish Awoken Whirlwind Wishing Dishwasher Practice sounding the difference between R & W as well as V & W: Ride, Wide Rain, Wayne Run, Won Row, Woe Rue, Woo Reek, Week Veal, Wheel Vest, West Vet, Wet Vine, Wine Verse, Worse Viper, Wiper Read these sentences aloud:

William wanted Wendy to watch him ride the wild waves on the West coast.

The woeful Queen wept whilst waiting for twitter to work.

Wayne was washing the workshop windows when he awoke.

Where and when are we replacing the weaker wheel on your vehicle?


98

The of Juliet

This is known as an affricative (it starts with a plosive and ends with a fricative). Its a more complicated consonant sound. Start by forming the d sound (tip of the tongue

against the alveolar ridge) and rather than release the tongue away from the ridge you roll it along the roof of the mouth a little, creating the fricative sound (like in

measure).

Read these words aloud: Jam Jack Joke Gibberish Germs Gemstone Jewellery Jellyfish Jinx Jitters Journey Jewish Jumper Justice Hijack Adjust Joint Adjourn Japan Jolly Job Jabber Ajar Adjacent Read these sentences aloud:

Jason joined Mr Joness gym just to joke and jabber with Jack.

The adjoining door to the adjacent room is ajar and needs adjusting.

Joannes jealousy led her on a journey to Japan in a jolly jumper.

Juliet jabbered on about her pre wedding jitters and jinxed the whole event.


99

Lateral Release

When an L follows one of the plosive sounds D or T, the tongue only makes contact with the ridge once and the plosive releases laterally (to the sides of the tongue).


Middle Spotless Kettle

Rattle Prattle Cradle

Saddle Paddle Shuttle

Cuddling Muddled Puddle

The metal kettle was spotless And the rattling cradle was pointless.

If you get in a muddle And sit in a puddle

Then you may want to huddle a cuddle.


100

The K of Key and the G of Girl

Touch the back of the roof of the mouth with the back of the tongue. Squeeze them together to create pressure. Release by moving the tongue down, when voiced this

creates the G sound and unvoiced is the K sound.

Read these pairs, distinguishing clearly between the two initial K & G sounds. Kate, Gate Clamour, Glamour Could, Good Cold, Gold Clue, Glue Card, Guard Come, Gum Cork, Gawk Class, Glass Cap, Gap Coal, Goal Cage Gauge Read these pair, distinguishing between the final K & G sounds. Back, Bag Pluck, Plug Brick, Brig Duck, Dug Lack, Lag Stack, Stag Crack, Crag Rack, Rag Pick, Pig Wick, Wig Beck, Beg Buck, Bug Plaque, Plague Muck, Mug Shook, Shrug


101

The T of Tie and the D of Door

Place the tip of the tongue the ridge and the upper front teeth. Hold the air pressure and then release by dropping the tongue. Voiced this sound is a D and unvoiced it is a T.

Read these words, distinguishing clearly between the initial T and D sounds. Tad, Dad Tip, Dip Tab, Dab Tart, Dart Togs, Dogs Tamper, Damper Tangle, Dangle Tarn, Darn Tike, Dike Trance, Dance To, Do Tie, Die Read these words, distinguishing clearly between the final T and D sounds. Sweet, Swede Mood, Moot Mud, Mutt Set, Said Oat, Owed Had, Hat Heart, Hard Let, Lead Build, Built Mound, Mount


102

The P of Pen and the B of Baby

Press the lips together and push the air forward in the mouth to create pressure. As you release the pressure by parting the lips (unvoiced) you create the P sound, add

voice and it becomes a B sound.

Read these words, distinguishing clearly between the initial P and B sounds. Push, Bush Pack, Back Pun, Bun Pat, Bat Pluck, Buck Print, Brink Purr, Burr Pie, Buy Pig, Big Read these words, distinguishing clearly between the final P and B sounds. Cap, Cab Slap, Slab Tap, Tab Mop, Mob Cup, Cub Pup, Pub Nib Nip Globe, Hope


103

The S of Sue and the Z of

Documents

Elocution Online Manual