外教教你学英语音标 辅音[k]

Hi. This video is going to focus on the /k/ sound.

/k/ is a voiceless consonant sound.

The /k/ sound is produced by bouncing the back of your tongue off of the soft palate.

Think of it like a trampoline action in the back of your tongue, /k/,...

...feel the back of your tongue jumping to touch the soft palate and release.

The most common challenge with this sound is a lack of muscularity...

...so you lose the energy of the /k/ and you might even drop the sound altogether.

This can lead to a mumbling quality or can even change the meaning of the word.

This tends to happen toward the end of words.

Listen to the difference when I pronounce a few word pairs.

Stack, sta.

Pick, pih.

Lock, la.

Can you hear and feel the energy of /k/?

You see, there is a big bounce happening and a release of air on the sound.

Now, let's practice together.

Here's an exercise that can help you develop more energy and action in the back of the tongue.

I call it, "Trampoline for the K".

Try using your hands like I do to mirror what is happening in your mouth.

The goal for this is to actually inhale and exhale on the /k/ sound.

Let's try that together a few times.

/k/, /k/, /k/, /k/, /k/, /k/.

You can actually do this 10 or 20 times on your own and feel that trampoline bounce each time.

Now, let's try a few words with that action of the /k/

Cat.

Kick.

Kept.

Prickle.

Snacking.

Slacker.

Back.

Tech.

Flick.

Try this out as you practice on EnglishCentral and good luck!