Articulation Exercises

These exercises force you to focus on two things:

  1. Switching between voiced and unvoiced consonants

  2. Breath control

For each of the exercises below, take a deep breath into your stomach and repeat the sounds as many times in a row as possible.

10 times in one breath
This is a great place to start, especially as you learn the IPA symbols and your mouth starts to force itself into positions it usually avoids.

15 times in one breath
This is a good beginning target to shoot for.

20 times in one breath
This should be your overall goal.

30 times in one breath
Try doing the exercise with a cork or pencil between your teeth to make it even harder.

40 times in one breath
Holy shit dude, calm down.

Hot Tips

  • Get the sounds right first, then worry about speed

  • Don't emphasize any syllable too much - keep them all on the same level to save breath

  • Breathe into your stomach - if your shoulders rise or your chest expands, ya done fucked it up

  • Be efficient - use only as much air as you need

  • The exercises are notated in International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

pə bə tə də kə gə tə də

pə bə wə ʍə pə bə rə wə

nə ŋə kə gə lə ŋə kə gə

fə və ʃə ʒə sə zə ʃə ʒə