Difficult Combos
Combining some of the alveolar consonants (/d̪/ /t̪/) with the alveolar tap can be quite difficult. What's more, these are very common and are always articulated completely. So it's important to spend a lot of time getting these right.
If you recall from Spanish Consonants, the Spanish /d̪/ and /t̪/ differ from the English /d/ and /t/ in the part of the tongue used. So what's the significance of this?
This is why I always emphasize your building a habit of ALWAYS making the /d̪/ and /t̪/ sounds. The acoustic differences between these sounds is small, but the physiological effects are huge.
If you recall from Spanish Consonants, the Spanish /d̪/ and /t̪/ differ from the English /d/ and /t/ in the part of the tongue used. So what's the significance of this?
- Combining the English /d/ and /t/ with /&/ sound requires the same part of your tongue to strike the same part of your mouth TWO times. It is impossible to do this with any kind of real speed.
- Combining the Spanish /d̪/ and /t̪/ with /&/ is done in ONE smooth motion. Any Spanish speaker can perform this fluid movement quickly.
- Therefore the only way to consistently hit these combos at fast speed is if you do the Spanish /d̪/ and /t̪/ sounds (blade of the tongue; NOT tip of the tongue).
This is why I always emphasize your building a habit of ALWAYS making the /d̪/ and /t̪/ sounds. The acoustic differences between these sounds is small, but the physiological effects are huge.
/d̪/ and /t̪/ Combos
Build Awareness
Level 1 gets you started by placing each vowel in between the two consonants. This will build the basic tongue flick motion that you need for the actual consonant combo.
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Build Strength
Level 2 will build your strength and speed. Choose a vowel (e.g. /u/) and start by placing it between the two consonants (e.g. d̪u&a). Chant this two-sylllable consonant over again over again while gradually building the speed. Eventually, you will go so fast that you will have to drop the vowel and create the consonant combo (e.g. d̪&a). Keep building the speed until you burn out.
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Build Endurance
Level 3 will build your consistency and precision. Choose any vowel (e.g. /e/) and make the consonant combo sound with either consonant (e.g. d̪&e). Clap a stead beat and repeat that sound on each beat for a full measure. Then, while keeping the same beat, do it double time and chant the two twice per beat for a whole measure. Then go back to once per measure, and etc.
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Workout Plan
To get the full benefits out of these drills, you need a structure in practicing them. In general, your goal should be to workout until you feel "fatigue" in your mouth. Any soreness you feel today will translate to newfound strength and speed tomorrow.
Try this regimen:
If you really want to push yourself, try to do two sessions a day, one in the morning and one before bed.
If you do this consistently for 2 weeks, eventually you will never struggle with these combos in normal Spanish Speech.
Try this regimen:
- The audio files for Level 1 represent one set. As a warm-up, do 5 sets each for /d̪/ and /t̪/.
- Do 10 sets each of Level 2 /d̪/ and /t̪/
- Set a timer and do Level 3 at a comfortable speed for 1 minute and 30 seconds for one set. Do 3 sets each for /d̪/ and /t̪/, taking a short break between sets to rest your mouth.
If you really want to push yourself, try to do two sessions a day, one in the morning and one before bed.
If you do this consistently for 2 weeks, eventually you will never struggle with these combos in normal Spanish Speech.
Trill Tap Combo
As I said before, the trill sound /+/ is the least common sound in Spanish. Most of the time, you can replace the trill with a tap and you'll be fine. Of course, I strongly encourage you to strengthen that sound since it can be tricky to use in Spanish at normal speed.
The drill below develops you ability to alternate between the trill /+/ and tap /&/, which you will need to occasionally do in Spanish. At the end of the file, you will hear me say some words like "ka...+e...&a" and "fe...+o...ka...+il."
The drill below develops you ability to alternate between the trill /+/ and tap /&/, which you will need to occasionally do in Spanish. At the end of the file, you will hear me say some words like "ka...+e...&a" and "fe...+o...ka...+il."
With these last drills, you will have covered ALL the problematic consonant sounds and combos. As you progress through the lessons, return to this index often to get your Spanish conditioning up. With this conditioning, you'll be able to mimic and speak Spanish with little to no physical effort much faster than just doing the song lessons alone.
