(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!
