Articulation Exercises

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More Tips from the Top from Connie Terwilliger

Articulation: Exercises to overcome “Immovable Jaw”, “Idle Tongue”, “Lazy Lips”, and “Too Much Speed”.

LIMBERING UP

• 1.      Spread the lips in a smile for “eeeee”, open them for “aaahh”, and close them for “ooooo”.
• 2.      Rapidly say “fud-dud-dud-dah” several times. Now say “ira-ira-ira-ira-ira-ira”.
• 3.      Make believe you are a truck. Trill your tongue. Be a rattlesnake.

TONGUE

Say each of the following words 5 times, trying to keep the tongue forward, just behind the upper front teeth. Listen for brightness and liveliness of tone.

• Tea
• Deal
• Tick
• Dish
• Tail
• Thick
• Nape
• Table

LIPS

A stiff upper lip is one cause of misarticulation. Say the words “pit-pat-pit-pat-pit-pat” many times. Try to pronounce the “P’s” and “T’s” very clearly. Now try to pick up the speed. DON’T LOOSE THE “P” AND THE “T”.

JAW OPENING EXERCISES

1. Say the following words while exaggerating your jaw opening.

• Hack
• Yacht
• Dot
• Paw
• Yard
• Dart
• Tab
• Tot
• Dark
• Hah
• Tat
• Lad

2.      These next words have diphthongs, which require the jaw to be open at the beginning of the word, shifting to a more closed position at the end.

• High
• Tie
• Die
• Lie
• Rye
• Kite
• Howl
• Noun
• Loud
• Coin
• Loyal
• Dine

MORE LOOSENING UP EXERCISES

Repeat each of the following word groupings clearly over and over. Start slowly at first. As your articulators become more nimble and relaxed you will be able to pick up speed without stumbling. Do any sort of tongue twister that comes to mind. The more you loosen up before a session, the easier it will be.

• Good Blood, Bad Blood Bad Blood, Good Blood
• Red Leather, Yellow Leather
• Buttah, Guttah Guttah, Buttah
• The Leaf Police Dismisses Us

Connie Terwilliger

Tagged as: Articulation