This is a speech sound that makes it's mark in a very certain yet subtle way - often closing, ending the sound of a word, in a rounded form.
Take the phrase "light-hearted" used to describe a humorous, fun approach, to what you are doing. The special quality and characteristic of the sound d enables the speech sound to 'complete', often be warm and certain, closing the end of a word firmly and positively.
Taking, respectively, phrases nurses or teachers may use about a medical procedure for patients or a piece of homework for pupils, the rounded, firm, warmth of the d sound can provide re-assurance and direction.
For example a nurse needing to re-assure a patient saying, "The medical procedure has now been completed." A lot can rest, for the patient, on the measured pace of this phrase being spoken and ability to draw out and create the warm, firm, rounded characteristic of the the consonant d where it appears within the words.
The creation of the characteristic, the quality of d in this sentence is aided further by the opportunity in the two words 'medical' and 'procedure' by stepping the syllables, a technique I will cover in a future Post. The syllables in these two words - med/ic/al and pro/ced/ure - show the consonant d being in prominent positions at the close of syllables in which they are situated.
A natural supporting gesture for this sound is where our hands, through our outstretched arms in front of us, enclose gently, yet firmly, an imaginary tennis ball with the giving out of the sound d coming as our hands encircle the ball.
Feel the sound d come from between the tongue and upper teeth when, finally, the tongue moves away from the teeth to allow the built up air of our breath to project forward out of the mouth - a true "impact" sound.
A good exercise to develop the quality of the d sound is to repeat the following phrase a number of times, periodically:
"Tricked deep dingle deep biting narrow copper dark to dark"
This exercise from Dr Rudolf Steiner places key consonants, in this case d, within words to enable the above full characteristics to be developed and experienced.
The speech sounds we make should arise consciously, rather than unconsciously, reflecting our striving to create the full nature we know a particular sound can make. The short recordings of the sounds I include with each post are there to help in this conscious striving. I attach one for d.
