The Consonant T

The sound of this consonant, particularly when formed consciously, is so helpful to hear. It provides firmness and clarity.

It is an "impact" sound where the end is definite. Examples covered on this Blog so far are b, c, d, g, k, m, n, p.

Words pronounced without the t sound being formed become particularly unclear and their meaning lost. A simple example is the word "bat", meanings of which can either be a bat with which to strike a ball, or a type of bird that only flies at dusk. Without sounding the consonant t the three letters "bat" have a very different sound and meaning.

The t sound can be either very marked and obvious, as in bat or formed in combination with another consonant, as in "strike", or combined with another consonant in a 'masked' way, examples being "thud, think, thank, the."

The plight (there is a prominent marked t at the end of this word) is where it needs to be a strong marked sound and it is not formed at all. The resulting 'gap' is confusing. To experience this experiment with the word "water". Without the t sound the sound can only come from the letters "wa er" - even my computer will not allow me to type these four letters!

This change in word sound is not like leaving the t off "bat", leaving "ba ba black sheep" for the sounds from the consonants and vowels "waer" have no meaning in the English Language. This
example highlights the importance, necessity of consciously making the t sound.


Why, therefore, do people not make the sound or not make it sufficiently strong? Often they do not realise they are not making. It is a sensitive thing to say to someone they are not pronouncing their consonants. A missing sound may simply through laziness.

On the positive side of things how can we practically get the best out of our t's. Take words like "letter" and "matter"  and mix them with words that either do not have or do not have many t's then speak these mixtures of words, consciously drawing out and forming the full extent of the t sound.

An example of a set of words embracing "letter" and "matter" are "The letter was very matter of fact."
Say the sentence consciously forming the t sounds. Then say it consciously Not forming the t sounds.
Then say it again - forming them consciously.

Experience the contrast. Do this with someone listening to you and ask them to describe to you how they experience the difference.

Use sentences and phrases like this to exercise speaking this particular consonantal sound. Feel exactly where in the mouth you are consciously forming the t sound. Visualise this happening. Listen to yourself, your body and your mouth when you are forming this sound, particularly when you experience it being formed firmly and creatively. Look into a mirror and see the sound being formed by your mouth and also your whole body. Feel the importance and value of standing, sitting upright when forming this sound. In eurythmy, the art form of visible speech, your arms rise above the head, with the points of fingers descending to touch the top of the head in the middle.

Enjoy being heard clearly and imaginatively when you speak - consciously living this consonant.

T is like a key, a lever, a gateway to beautiful, rich sounding words - living speech.

Please tell me your experiences and through the Blog share these with others