Ideal Morning Pronunciation Practice

Introduction

• Goal: Daily morning pronunciation practice to energize and build muscles for articulation.
• Benefits: Improves clarity and control in both English and native language.
• Timing: Do in the morning or before meetings/speaking engagements.

Initial Exercises

Jaw Massage

• Purpose: Relax tension in the jaw hinge where tension commonly builds up.
• Steps:
  • Massage jaw hinge (upper and lower jaw connection).
  • Hum to warm up the voice and reduce 'morning voice'.
  • Move jaw around with hands to relax it.

Tongue Warm-up

• Steps:
  1. Stick tongue out, move it right and left (10 times).
  2. Stick tongue out, move it up and down (10 times).
  3. Stick tongue out, bring it back in quickly (10 times).
  4. Blow out lips to release tension.
  5. Clean teeth with tongue (ensure no food particles are stuck).
  6. Massage inside of cheeks with tongue while resisting with cheek muscles.
  7. Tongue trills or lip trills (up and down in pitch).
  8. Massage jaw again.

Lips Warm-up

• Steps:
  1. Push lips forward (as in a kiss) and pull to sides (without engaging cheeks).
  2. Do not hold tension in shoulders or face.
  3. Combine lip movements with sounds (e.g., tip of the tongue consonants).

Sounds Practice

Tip of the Tongue Consonants

• Examples:
  • T sound (tip of tongue touches upper palate).
  • S and Z sounds (move tongue back).

Lip Consonants

• Examples:
  • Bring lips together and release air.
  • Voiced version and nasal version (mama).
  • Combine with vowels: 'my', 'may', 'mo', 'moy', 'mao'.

Back of Mouth Sounds

• Examples:
  • G sound combined with high E sound (goo, kakaku).
  • Tense O sound (back open vowel).
  • Raise soft palate by yawning, bring voice to chest and head.

Tongue Twisters

• Examples:
  • Unique New York
  • Good blood, bad blood
  • Tragedy, strategy

Th Sounds

• Steps:
  1. Stick tongue out and pronounce voice and voiceless th.
  2. Transition between sounds (th l th, sth).

Relaxation

• Steps:
  1. Relax lips and release air.
  2. Massage jaw again.

Common Phrases Practice

• Examples:
  • What are you
  • What do you want/like/do/say
  • Gonna go, gotta go (I’m gonna go home)
  • Coulda, shoulda (I could have seen it)

Breathing Exercise

• Steps:
  1. Hand on belly, breathe into the belly.
  2. Exhale with sound, repeat.

Conclusion

• Recommendation: Practice daily for noticeable improvement in articulation.
• Accountability: Write 'done' in comments to track progress.

Have a beautiful day and see you tomorrow!