0793 – The Right Way To Use Tongue Twisters As An Articulation Exercise

 2023.03.04 – 0793 – The Right Way To Use Tongue Twisters As An Articulation Exercise

Tongue Twisters

Once you have warmed up the tongue, you can try some tongue twisters to put it through its paces (if you try a tongue twister before you’ve warmed up the tongue and you’ll just end up tongue-tied and demoralised…)

What do I like about a tongue-twister? It’s hard to say (!), but having said that, their name is a bit of misnomer because they not only help stretch and strengthen several of those tongue muscles, but also warm up your other ‘moveable articulators’, the lips and soft palate too. That aside, adding them to your routine can lead to better enunciation and expression which will help you master more complex reads.

From scripts and everyday life, make a note of the words and phrases that trip you up most, then pick a twister that includes those sound combinations. Start slowly and make sure each phrase is clear and crisp, pronouncing each of the consonant and vowel sounds accurately. Then repeat the twister gradually increasing pace and exaggeration, starting again after any stumble. Aim for six twisters 60 minutes before a studio session, as well as more as part of your regular routine. An A-Z of Tongue Twisters can be found in episode 106… but these are made up word-forms that you’re unlikely to encounter in real life. That’s not to say they’re not useful tests, but don’t forget the more regular phrases that you may find yourself stumbling over (I remember “international coronavirus restrictions ”).

Oh, and after you have tried a twister a few times, try it with a pencil in your mouth (or a chopstick or something similar). Hold it horizontally between your teeth, across your mouth pushing back your cheeks to just short of where they start to hurt. Then do the twister again a few times to help you concentrate on the words. Finally try the same phrase without the pencil to see how your speed, and diction accuracy has improved. 

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