Fig. 19.

Definition,[t, d] are occlusive, plosive, forelingual, apical, alveolar; [tj is strong and voiceless, [dj is weak and voiced, in final position it is partly devoiced.

Articulation.1. The complete obstruction is made by the tip of the tongue firmly pressed against the middle of the alveolar ridge.

2. The soft palate is raised and the air coming into the
mouth is trapped for a short time. Then it breaks the
obstruction with a slight explosion.

3. The vocal cords do not vibrate when [t] is formed. For [dj
they are drawn together and vibrate when it occurs before vow­
els or in intervocal positions, eg done, ladder.

4. The breath effort for [t] is very strong, for (d) it is weak.
Recommendations.1. Start with Articulation Exercises II,

10; 111, 6—9.

2. Put the tip of the tongue (not the blade) against the alve­olar ridge and push the air through the mouth breaking the ob­struction.

3. Make the sound [t] strong and aspirated, eg too, tart, toy.

Allophones.The partially devoiced weak [d] occurs in word tinal positions, eg nod, sad.

Comparison with the Russian [т, д, т д'].The Russian con­sonants [т, д] are produced with the blade of the tongue against the back of the upper teeth. They are dental, while the corre­sponding English sounds are apical alveolar and the Russian consonant [t] is not aspirated. In word final position only (т] is heard, eg пуд, сад, while the final English [d] is partially devoic­ed, cf сед — said.

The palatalized Russian consonants (т д'] are formed with the front secondary focus (the front part of the tongue is raised to the hard palate).

The opposition of the Russian sounds [т — т д — д'] may distinguish the meaning of words, eg тапки — тяпки, тук — тюк, дат (род, пад. мн.) — дать, ток — тёк, томный — тёмный, рад — рать.

Possible Mistakes. 1. Russian students of English sometimes replace the English [t, d] by the corresponding Russian (т, д]. For the English consonants [t, d] the tip (not the blade) of the tongue should be pressed against the alveolar ridge (not the upper teeth). When [t] is pronounced the student should be careful to make it strong and aspirated.

2. In case one palatalizes the English [t, d] it is a phonetic
mistake. While pronouncing the [t, d] the front part of the
tongue should not be raised to the hard palate.

3. .If (dj in word final position is fully voiced it is also a pho­netic mistake. To avoid it take care to make the sound rather weak.

4. If [d] in word final position is fully devoiced the mistake is phonological. To get rid of it one should remember that the sound is practically voiced but still rather weak.

The word contrast practice is useful here:

bet — bed, sight — side, late — laid heart — hard, set — said, brought — broad

[k, g] occur in word initial word medial and word final positions. [k] — spelt "k; c; cc + a, o, u; qu; ch", eg kite, card, accord,

conquer, stomach [g] — spelt "g; gg; gh; gu", eg garden, giggle, ghost, guard