03. [t]
/t/ as in TOP /tɑp/, RETURN /rɪˈtɚn/, and CAT /kæt/
PRONOUNCING /t/
TONGUE TIP: is firmly pressed against gum ridge behind upper front teeth.
AIRSTREAM: is stopped and then exploded.
VOCAL CORDS: are not vibrating.
The sound /t/ in English is similar to the sound of the Spanish letter “t”. English /t/ is aspirate and produced with a strong puff of air.
SPANISH KEY WORDS WITH /t/
Spanish words with this sound are spelled with t.
KEY WORDS: tiempo tengo siete
POSSIBLE PRONUNCIATION PROBLEMS FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKER
The sound /t/ is a familiar consonant for you. However, /t/ is much more explosive in English than in Spanish. When speaking English, your tongue tip should touch the upper gum ridge and NOT the back of your upper front teeth. /t/ must be said with strong aspiration and a puff of air or it might sound like /d/.
Practice saying /t/ by loosely holding a tissue in front of your aspirate /t/ correctly and say it with a puff of air, your tissue will flutter. So, be sure to practice all the time; you’ll make a terrific /t/!
When t is between two vowels and follows a stressed syllable, as in water, butter, city, etc., it is NOT aspirated. t between vowels sounds like the Spanish r in such words as caro, pero, and toro.
When t follows s as in stop, stay, stick, etc., it is NOT aspirated with a puff of air.
EXERCISE A
The following words should be pronounced with /t/. Pronounce them carefully.
/t/ At the Beginning
/t/ In the Middle
/t/ At the End
to /tu/
ten /tɛn/
try /traɪ/
top /tɑp/
talk /tɔk/
tell /tɛl/
tree /tri/
time /taɪm/table /ˈteɪbəl/terrible /ˈtɛrəbəl/until /ənˈtɪl/after /ˈæftɚ/empty /ˈɛmpti/wanted /ˈwʌntɪd/attend /əˈtɛnd/return /rɪˈtɚn/winter /ˈwɪntɚ/between /bɪˈtwin/contain /kənˈteɪn/printing /ˈprɪntɪŋ/it /ɪt/but /bʌt/ate /eɪt/boat /boʊt/went /wɛnt/late /leɪt/light /laɪt/state /steɪt/fruit /frut/apart /əˈpɑrt/
HINTS:
1.The letter t is usually pronounced /t/
2.The letters ed in past tense verbs are pronounced /t/ when they follow a voiceless consonant.
EXAMPLES:
stopped
/stɑpt/
looked
/lʊkt/
kissed
/kɪst/
washed
/wɑʃt/
EXERCISE B
Read the following words aloud. Remember, the t between vowels is usually NOT aspirated. Pronounce it like the Spanish r in cara or toro.
city /ˈsɪti/pretty /ˈprɪti/better /ˈbɛtɚ/notice /ˈnoʊtɪs/butter /ˈbʌtɚ/water /ˈwɔtɚ/writing /ˈraɪtɪŋ/sitting /ˈsɪtɪŋ/pattern /ˈpætɚn/cutting /ˈkʌtɪŋ/
EXERCISE C
Read the following phrases and sentences aloud. Be sure to say any “t” at the beginning of the boldface words with a puff of air. Your tongue tip should be against your upper gum ridge and NOT the back of your teeth.
Tell the teacher.
tɛl ðə ˈtitʃɚ.
tea and toast
ti ænd toʊst
take apart
teɪk əˈpɑrt
Take your time.
teɪk yɔr taɪm.
Today is Tuesday.
təˈdeɪ ɪz ˈtuzdeɪ.
Turn off the light.
tɚn ɔf ðə laɪt.
Tom bought two tickets.
tɑm bɔt tu ˈtɪkɪts.
Ten and ten is twenty.
tɛn ænd tɛn ɪz ˈtwɛnti.
Ted has a terrible temper.
tɛd hæz ə ˈtɛrəbəl ˈtɛmpɚ.
Turn left at tenth street.
tɚn lɛft æt tɛnθ strit.