Syllable Initials 3
Difficult Consonant Pairs
On this page, you will review the "Difficult Consonant Pairs". These consonants are organized into similar sounding pairs. I refer to these pairs as "difficult" because it is difficult to distinguish the difference between the two consonant sounds of a pair. In this lesson, I will explain to you exactly what the physiological difference is between the consonants of each pair, and you will listen closely to the difference and try your best to mimic.
ts vs. dz
For the "ts" sound, make a a normal /t/ sound but instead of releasing your tongue all the way, follow it immediately with the /s/ sound.
Now if you do this exact same tongue movement but then activate your voice box while doing it, you will get the "dz" sound (Alternatively, you can just think of it as making a /d /sound then following it immediately with the /z/ sound.)
The main thing distinguishing these two sounds is Voice Onset Time. The "ts" sound is voiceless, meaning your voice box is NOT activated when making this sound. You DO activate the voicebox, however, while making the "dz" sound.
For any "dz" syllable, your voice carries over to the next vowel. For any "ts" syllable, your voice does not activate until the start of the vowel sound.
Between the time you make the "ts" sound and the vowel sound, you ASPIRATE. So for "ts", the order of operations is:
The dz sound is NOT aspirated.
This may sound complex but it should make sense once you listen closely to each sound. In the audio below, I say each syllable as a pair so that you can hear the difference. Note that in pinyin, "ts" is represented as "c", and "dz" is represented as "z". Listen closely and mimic.
For any "dz" syllable, your voice carries over to the next vowel. For any "ts" syllable, your voice does not activate until the start of the vowel sound.
Between the time you make the "ts" sound and the vowel sound, you ASPIRATE. So for "ts", the order of operations is:
- ts
- aspiration
- voiced vowel
The dz sound is NOT aspirated.
This may sound complex but it should make sense once you listen closely to each sound. In the audio below, I say each syllable as a pair so that you can hear the difference. Note that in pinyin, "ts" is represented as "c", and "dz" is represented as "z". Listen closely and mimic.
ca/za...cai/zai...can/zan...cang/zang...cao/zao...ce/ze...zei...cen/zen...ceng/zeng
ci/zi...cong/zong...cou/zou...cu/zu...cuan/zuan...cui/zui...cun/zun...cuo/zuo
x vs. sh (retro)
When you learned about the Mandarin "r" sound, you learned about Retroflexion. To review, retroflexion means that your tongue does NOT move back toward the back of the roof of the mouth. The "sh" sound in Mandarin is retroflex. It helps to stick out your jaw while making these sounds.
sha...shai...shan...shang...shao...she...shei...shen...sheng...shi*...shong
shou...shu...shua...shuai...shuan...shuang...shui...shun...shuo
The "x" sound is not retroflex, which means your tongue DOES go back toward the roof of the mouth. It helps to spread your lips as if smiling when making this sound.
xi...xia...xian...xiang...xiao...xie...xin...xing...xiong...xiu...xu*...xuan...xue...xun
j vs. zh (retro)
These sounds are similar to the ones above. The "zh" sound is retroflex, so stick out your jaw and make sure your tongue is moving straight down and NOT back in your mouth.
zha...zhai...zhan...zhang...zhao...zhe...zhei...zhen...zheng...zhi*...zhong...
zhou...zhu...zhua...zhuai...zhuan...zhuang...zhui...zhun...zhuo
The "j" sound is NOT retroflex, so be sure to spread your lips wide when making the sound.
ji...jia...jian...jiang...jiao...jie...jin...jing...jiong...jiu...ju...juan...jue...jun
q vs. ch (retro)
These sounds follow the same pattern as above. Both of these sounds, however, are ASPIRATED. The "ch" is retroflex, so same deal with the jaw and tongue.
cha...chai...chan...chang...chao...che...chen...cheng...chi*...chong...
chou...chu...chua...chuai...chuan...chuang...chui...chun...chuo
And finally, the "q" is NOT retroflex, so same deal with spreading the lips. Don't forget to aspirate!
qi...qia...qian...qiang...qiao...qie...qin...qing...qiong...qiu...qu*...quan...que...qun
Syllable Initials Submission
Now that you are familiar with all the above Mandarin vowel sounds and their pinyin spellings, it's time to narrow down the few sounds that are problematic for you.
Once your account is set up, you will record yourself clearly articulating each of the syllables found on the table below and then email them to [email protected].
Once your account is set up, you will record yourself clearly articulating each of the syllables found on the table below and then email them to [email protected].
- Unlike my fast recordings, be sure to leave a clear space between each syllable so that I can more easily pinpoint it on your uploaded track.
- Read the chart row-by-row, from left to right, working your way down.
- Title your track: Mandarin Syllable Intials Part 3 - Your Name
Once you have submitted your recording, you may move on to the "Wrap Up"
