Nasal Plosion and a Final T Consonant

(Video Transcript)

Hi, I’m Julie with San Diego Voice and Accent, and in this video you’ll learn how to pronounce words that use nasal plosion with a final T consonant.

In an earlier video, I discussed nasal plosion, which can occur in the words sudden, widen, and hidden. The viewer “Learn with Ramzy” asked a great question about nasal plosion in words like student, which have a T consonant at the end. Thank you, Ramzy, for this video suggestion!

How to pronounce nasal plosion

Here is a quick review of nasal plosion. It can occur in words that have a final, unstressed D + N combination. Instead of pronouncing the full final syllable, like “din” in the word sudden, you can use an unreleased D, omit the vowel, and then move from the unreleased D to a syllabic N consonant. 

This makes the word sudden sound like sudden. 

To make nasal plosion, you’ll place the front of the tongue at the alveolar ridge for the D consonant, and then move directly to the N consonant without moving the tongue. You should feel a quick burst of air come out of the nose as you say the N consonant. 

Sudden. 

How to pronounce student with nasal plosion

Now let’s look at the word student. You can pronounce this as student, pronouncing the final syllable as “duhnt”, with a released D, the schwa vowel, and a true T at the end.

Duhnt

Duhnt

Duhnt

But you can also use nasal plosion in this word in two ways. You can use nasal plosion and a true T at the end:

Student (with true T)

Student (with true T)

Or, you can use nasal plosion and a stop T at the end:

Student (with a stop T)

Student (with a stop T)

Let’s take a closer look at those two pronunciations. 

How to pronounce student with a true T

First, the true T. The tongue tip should already be up at the alveolar ridge for the nasal plosion in the last syllable - the D + N combination. The tongue stays at that same spot for the true T - you don’t need to move it. You simply build up a small amount of air pressure behind the tongue tip, and you release the tongue. 

I’ll say it slowly you can hear the nasal plosion and true T combination.

Student (with true T)

Student (with true T)

Can you hear the release of air as I say the true T sound?

Student (with true T)

How to pronounce student with a stop T

Now, the stop T. The tongue placement is exactly the same - the tongue tip is up at the alveolar ridge for the nasal plosion, then the tongue stays there as you say the stop T with the vocal cords. And the final syllable is a little shorter.

I’ll say it slowly so you can hear the nasal plosion and stop T combination.

Student (with a stop T)

Student (with a stop T)

A lot of clients will ask me - how will someone know that I’ve said the T sound if I use a stop T? Don’t I have to use a true T? 

No - as long as you stop the airflow with the vocal cords - nt - that will signal to your listener that you said a T sound.

But you must stop the airflow - if you don’t, then your listener will hear a final N sound in the word student, not a T sound.

Student with and without a final T

I’ll say the word student with nasal plosion, and I’ll say it with the stop T and then without any stop to the airflow, which means no T sound at all. Listen to the difference.

Student (with a stop T)

Studen (not a real word; no T)

Student (with a stop T)

Studen (not a real word; no T)

Did you hear the abrupt stop of the airflow and the shorter final syllable when I used the stop T? 

Student (with a stop T)

That stop needs to be there - that is what signals you said a T sound.

How to pronounce wouldn't

Let’s practice this using the word wouldn’t. 

Now I just pronounced wouldn’t with nasal plosion and a stop T at the end.

Wouldn’t (with stop T)

Wouldn’t (with stop T)

If I don’t stop the airflow with my vocal cords, I’ll end up saying this word:

Wooden

As in, “I stirred the cookie dough with a wooden spoon”. 

Wooden

Now the word wouldn’t, which can be pronounced exactly the same as wooden, using nasal plosion in the final syllable, but you add a stop T at the end, and the final syllable is a little shorter.

Wouldn’t (with stop T)

Wouldn’t (with stop T)

Listening quiz: Nasal plosion + Final T

Let’s do a quick listening quiz. I’ll say a word that has the nasal plosion and final T combination. I want you to listen for two things: 1) Did you hear a T sound or not? And 2) If you heard a T sound, which type of T sound did you hear - a true T or a stop T?

Student (with stop T)

Wooden (no T)

Couldn’t (with True T)

Hadn’t (with stop T)

Shouldn (*not a real word) (no T)

I hope this video helped you to pronounce words with nasal plosion and a final T consonant. Thanks for watching! And I'd love to hear from you - contact me to learn how we can work together to perfect your American English pronunciation!