Now to the Consonant "g".

'g' is a powerful grounded sound made by the back of the tongue pressing against the soft palate in the roof of the mouth.

It is a short sound that consumes all the breath it needs. If it is made well "the breath becomes the sound itself". This can and should be the case with all sounds though this is more easier to achieve in some  than others. This is called 'intoning'. I will spend time on this at the conclusion of the alphabet.

Experience the "g" sound by saying the words "Gripping Granite". In these two words the g is incredibly powerful. It sets the whole tone and nature of the sounds to come through these two words.
When the breath is able to become absorbed into the sound it feels solid and dense. It is these particular characteristics that help give the consonant g its power.

Search for a phrase or sentence you use often which has the consonant g in it. Write it down and repeat it a number of times and start developing and creating the characteristics of solidity and density. Get a sense from within yourself what it is like to speak in this new way and observe the reaction of others to how you are consciously forming this sound. For example if they look up or towards you when you form it. Ask them what they are hearing from you.

And play with the various images and tones that may be expressed through this sound. For example a teacher saying during the course of a day a range of sounds of g. For example from: "gather round for a story", through "get your sports gear and put it in the locker" to "go to the head teacher, now" The sounds of the consonant g in each of these examples is likely to be different to each other.

The first is soft, gentle and with an intriguing nature. The second a simple direction. The third a command which needs to have an unequivocal characteristic to it. Say these phrases and experience where, for you, the g sounds are coming from in the palate and what exactly the tongue is doing to make them.

I explore this further through the audio recording attached to this Post.

And going right back to our initial Posts on the importance of holding a clear picture image of what you are wanting to say for this consonant - visualise the sound you intend to form by gripping something with your hand and experiencing the advancing closure of your fingers.

g is a profound sound embodying the power of the universe with the power to have a strong impact on resistance and "engrave" itself on what it meets.

An exercise from Dr Rudolf Steiner for this consonantal sound is "Grey gritty granite grounds gruesome are they." As with all his exercises a particular consonant is placed in words in such a way to gain maximum benefit from repeating them a number of times. There is no meaning to them.

ng is also a linked key sound often ending - putting the finishing touches to the intended sound nature of a word. As with the word "intoning" itself it has a 'ring' to it and provides an excellent opportunity to portray the quality of the ng sound. Practise saying these two consonants together and experience where the combined ng sound comes from in relation to both the palate and the tongue and how this is different to forming the consonantal g sound on it's own.

The final thing to say about sounds coming from forming the consonant g is the responsibility for  creating the sound most appropriate for the picture-images we are seeking to impart. With power comes responsibility!

So we are at the point now where I attach the audio recording I have made about aspects of forming this consonant.

 

 

 



Please let me know how you get on with experimenting with this sound, especially from countries where it is not a natural sound in the alphabet.

The next Post will be the third in a series of readings of Goethe's Poem "The Green Snake and The Beautiful Lily" where in a Subterranean Vault there are key conversations between Kings, the Snake and a Man with a Lamp. In this reading there will be plenty of consonantal g sounds!