What Linguistics Teaches Us About Pronunciation

This chapter explores the phonological structures of language including consonant and vowel phonemes. The places of articulation of consonantal sounds include the lips, teeth, alveolar ridge, hard palate, soft palate or velum, and glottis. Air flow can be temporarily stopped or obstructed as consonants are produced. The vocal folds also play a role in producing consonants, remaining apart and vibrating weakly for voiceless consonants and coming together and vibrating strongly for voiced consonants. Vowels are produced and described by where the tongue in placed in the oral cavity. Placement can be 1) high near the roof of the mouth, low near the bottom teeth, and midway between and 2) front near the teeth, back near the soft palate, and midway between. Students are provided opportunities to learn from and construct their own LiFT activity plans.