Lesson 19:
The Nasal Sounds
m (mom, Mary, name)
n (nine, name, Nancy)
ng (sing, ring, long)
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The
M and N and ng sounds are often
studied together because all are classified as nasal sounds. Nasal means
"produced by sending a stream of air through the nose."
The M, N, and ng sounds are produced with air movement through the
nose. If you hold your nose, you cannot produce these sounds in the same way.
(Try that!)
The only differences in these sounds are the position of the lips and tongue.
Let's look at each sound individually.
The M consonant sound (IPA
symbol: /m/) is made by lightly pressing your lips together while making the sound
with your vocal chords. Although most of
the air moves over your soft palate, some air moves through the nose, and it
feels like it is vibrating through your nasal passage. This is why the M consonant
is referred to as a nasal sound.
Practice
the M sound by saying these words aloud:
1) mom
2) come
3) my
4) miss
5) time
6) man
7) Mary
8) dim
9) may
10) ram
The N consonant sound (IPA
symbol: /n/) is made by moving air through the nasal passage. Your lips will be
slightly parted. The tongue touches the roof your mouth just behind your teeth.
You should feel a vibration in your nose.
Practice the N
sound by saying these words aloud:
1) nap
2) man
3) no
4) none
5) not
6) nine
7) ten
8) win
9) tiny
10) running
Can you feel the vibration in your nose?
You can't study
the N sound without also studying the ng
sound (IPA symbol: /ŋ/). This is the third nasal sound in English. It is
also produced by moving air through your nasal passage, but the tongue
placement is different than the N sound. Your tongue is raised and
further back in your mouth.
Practice
the ng sound by saying these words aloud:
1) sing
2) singer
3) ring
4) thing
5) string
6) wings
7) bring
8) bringing
9) hang
10) English
Now say these sentences out loud. Take
your time and practice the placement of the tongue to make the proper N and ng sounds.
The M sounds
are blue. The N sounds
are green. The ng sounds are red.
1) My mom sings.
2) No, the dog is not mine.
3) That ring is nice.
4) Come here now!
5) What is the man's name?
6) Bring me nine things.
7) Nancy
knows him.
8) Bring the hangers to me!
9) Mary sings
at night.
10) Learning
English is fun!
Have you finished them all? Awesome!
Keep practicing!
Well done! You have completed
the Nasal sound lesson.
Let's move on...