Unit 3.1
Letters: T-D, S-Z
Sounds and letters
Introduction
The letters t–d and s–z represent alveolar consonants. The former are plosives, respectively voiceless and voiced and the latter are fricatives, voiceless and voiced.
Example
t: table, teacher, trainers;
d: digital, dog, drive;
s: casual, spring, student;
z: size, zebra, zero.
Use
To pronounce alveolar consonants the flow of air is stopped or impeded by creating a block or a small opening between the tongue and the alveolar ridge.
To pronounce t-d the tip of the tongue touches the upper teeth creating a gap throughout which the air passes.
- t: voiceless, vocal cords do not vibrate during the articulation of the consonant;
- d: voiced, vocal cords vibrate during the articulation of the consonant;
To pronounce s-z the tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth creating a small gap and producing the sound.
- s: voiceless, vocal cords do not vibrate during the articulation of the consonant;
- z: voiced, vocal cords vibrate during the articulation of the consonant.