The sound of
prepared by: Nerissa J. Sotto
Variations of T sounds
T = T
RULE: The regular T sound is almost always used when "t" is the first letter of a word, when it's next to a consonant or on the stressed syllable
ST or TS always keep the regular T sound as well.
Examples:
table, tall, test, best
all first letter T's
Examples of T = T
Act
After
Against
Best
Contain
Correct
Country
Direct
East
Product
Street
State
Start
Talk
Table
Teach
T = D
When T is between two vowel sounds (A,E,I,O,U) or between a vowel and L or R (these letters are called semi-vowels to linguists),
it becomes a D sound. In phonetics, this sound is called
a "flap," which means the tongue touches the roof of the mouth quickly.
it becomes a D sound. In phonetics, this sound is called
a "flap," which means the tongue touches the roof of the mouth quickly.
It is also good to remember not to pronounce a strong T at the middle or end of a word. When not at the beginning or stressed, a T should be fast and soft or barely heard at all.
Remember
This T = D rule applies also when T is at the end of a word and the word is followed by a vowel sound, such as "put it on." This phrase would read "pudidon." This is very common in expressions that use "what" and "that," as in "what a good idea" or "wada good idea."
Remember: this is only true for vowel sounds. If the vowel is silent, the rule does not work. Note the word "write." The E is silent, so the T is not a D sound.
This rule does not apply when the middle T sound is stressed, such as "Italian."
Practice
computer, water, bottle, heater, better, matter,
ability, university, put it on, great idea
Say
compuder, wader, bodul, header, beder, mader,
abilidy, universidy, pudidon, gread'idea
Examples
About a = abouda
At a = ada
Beauty = byoodee
Better = bedr
But I = Bud-i
City = Cidee
Eat a = eada
Get a - geda
It is = idis
Letter = leder
Lot a = Loda
Lot of = lodof
Notice = Nodis
Patter = padern
Quarter = Quardr
That a = thada
Wait a = waida
Water = wader
Ninety = Ninedy
Silent T
When T comes after N, the T sound is dropped in many words.
This rule is not as important, as it's informal.
It is mostly used when people speak quickly, but it's good
to be able to listen for this change.
This rule is not as important, as it's informal.
It is mostly used when people speak quickly, but it's good
to be able to listen for this change.
It is also good to remember
not to pronounce a strong T at the middle or end of a word.
When not at the beginning or stressed, a T should be fast and soft
or barely heard at all.
not to pronounce a strong T at the middle or end of a word.
When not at the beginning or stressed, a T should be fast and soft
or barely heard at all.
Practice
interview, interstate, international, wanted,
don't know, printer, enter, twenty
Say
inerview, inerstate, inernational,
wanned, don'know, priner, ener, twenyExample
Center = cenr
Interstate = inerstate
Counter = couner
Twenty =tweny
Century = Cenchry
Hard T Sound
When T is before an N, the sound is stopped
and turns into a hard N.
The final N should be strong.
The final N should be strong.
This sound is more difficult.
It may be best to listen for it for a while
and then start trying to use it.
Practice
mountain, fountain, curtain, written,
forgotten, important, sentence
Say
mou-N, fou-N, cur-N, wri-N,
forgo-N, impor-Nt, sen-Nce
Example
Certain = Cer - N
Mountain = Mou - N
Mitten = Mi-N
Fountain = Fou-N
T before and after N
Last winter, I needed to buy a new curtain for our front window which has a wonderful view of the mountains. Though the errand was important to me, I had forgotten to buy the curtain during several weekend shopping trips. At last I had written a note to myself, and soon I was on the interstate, heading to an outlet center on the edge of town. I found a store with many wonderful materials that could be used for everything from curtains to winter mittens.
However, I could not find the shade of cream that I wanted. I went to the front counter and asked the clerk to check the store's other twenty locations on the internet to see if she could find that shade of cream. She listened to me with patience, but she said, "I don't know. That's certainly a tall order. Are you sure that you can recognize the color that you want online?" I had written a few sentences* about the cream I wanted.
After she read them, she said, "All right. I'll enter this into the computer and see what happens." Soon she had a lengthy printout with several options I could find at the other stores. I travelled south and found exactly what I wanted. There were also some lovely garden ornaments, and I bought a small bird fountain for only thirty dollars.
Stopped Sound of T
When T is at the end of a word (and this is not followed by a vowel), the sound stops.
To say this correctly, emphasize the preceding vowel, put
your tongue into place and simply stop the sound.
To say this correctly, emphasize the preceding vowel, put
your tongue into place and simply stop the sound.
This one too can be difficult to master, so listen for it first, especially when people say "It's hot!" or "That's that."
Example
Hat
Hot
Mat
Fat
Lot
Rat
Pat
Foot
Want
Sit
Sat
Bat
Pot