Shadowing Practice: Component Focus #4 - “How Do I Control My Soft Palate?” - Voice Breakdown - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creando lección...
1
Hi everyone, my name is Brendan Hodek and I am an instructor here at New York Speech Coaching in New York City.
2
Welcome to another one of our component focus videos.
3
Our component focus videos are different than our typical voice breakdown videos.
4
We will not be teaching a specific voice today.
5
In order to imitate any voice, you simply need to figure out six components.
6
But many of you have mentioned how certain components give you a bit of a hard time.
7
So we thought it would be best to make videos that specifically focus on one component, giving you some exercises to gain more control over that component.
8
Today's episode will be focused on the soft palate.
9
The soft palate is that mushy feeling place at the back of your mouth.
10
Let's get familiar with the soft palate and all of the other landmarks in the mouth.
11
Begin by touching the tip of your tongue to the top front teeth like this.
12
Then, we are going to slide the tongue backwards slowly, always maintaining contact with the top of the mouth.
13
The first things you feel, as we said, are the front teeth.
14
Slide that tongue back a little more and you will feel a bumpy area known as the alveolar ridge.
15
If you're not sure where that is, it's that place where you burn your mouth on pizza.
16
Keep that tongue touching the top of the mouth and slide it back a little more.
17
You will feel the tongue all of a sudden go drastically upward, touching something that is very hard.
18
We call that the hard palette.
19
Then if you keep sliding the tongue backward, you will eventually feel it turn all mushy.
20
That is your soft palate.
21
If you look in your mouth, you can see your soft palate.
22
The uvula, or the punching bag in the back of the throat, hangs down from our soft palate.
23
The soft palate can rise and lower.
24
When it does, it acts as a trap door, controlling whether air and sound are directed through the nose or the mouth.
25
Sending sound into the nose will give the voice a brighter quality
26
while sending it into the mouth will give it a darker and more rounded quality.
27
This component can be difficult to control.
28
We have heard lots of feedback that it is hard to get a sensation of the palate moving.
29
We have some exercises today to help you with that.
30
This exercise we call "In and Out".
31
There are four steps to this exercise.
32
For all four steps, keep your jaw relaxedly open.
33
Do not let your mouth close.
34
Step one, with your jaw relaxedly open, breathe in through your mouth and out through your mouth.
35
Ah.
36
Ah.
37
I Step two, with your jaw relaxedly open, breathe in through your nose and out through your nose.
38
- - Thank you.
39
Thank you.
40
- Thank you.
41
Step three, again with your jaw relaxedly open, breathe in through your nose, but then out through your mouth.
42
Thank you.
43
Thank you.
44
And finally, step four, with your jaw still relaxedly open, breathe in through your mouth and out through your nose.
45
Ah.
46
- Thank you.
47
Ah.
48
Yeah.
49
After this, you can repeat this process, but on the exhale, make sound.
50
Hmm...
51
Thank you.
52
Haaaaaa Hmm...
53
These are all of the different combinations of the ways you can breathe.
54
But the big question is, How in the world are you doing that?
55
How did you control which way the air or sound went?
56
You did this by manipulating the soft palate and the back of the tongue you just didn't even notice.
57
Do the exercise again, but this time while looking into a mirror.
58
You will see when breathing through the mouth how the soft palate naturally goes upward and the back of the tongue lowers.
59
This blocks air or sound from going into the nose.
60
Then, as you breathe through the nose, you will see how the soft palate lowers and touches the back of the tongue,
61
forming a blockade, so that air or sound cannot go through the mouth, but is forced to go into the nose.
62
Practice this exercise and start to become mindful of what muscles you feel activating as you do this.
63
Your entire life you have done this passively, but as you focus you'll be able to get a sense of the muscles that are at work.
64
Exercise number two is the "ung -ah".
65
Our last exercise taught you how to manipulate the soft palate, but it pretty much only told you how to put it all the way up or all the way down.
66
For many of our voices, you have heard me give you percentages of nasal resonance, lowered soft palate versus oral resonance raised soft palate.
67
We need to learn how to gradually move between complete nasal
68
and oral resonance so that we can fine tune this and create the brightness or darkness we are looking for.
69
Bring in the "NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN Start out on the NG sound.
70
Let's be clear that NG is not N or G, but is its own sound, NG or Mm -hmm.
71
You made this sound before when you were exhaling through the nose and making sound.
72
If you can't find it, simply say the word sing and hold out the last sound.
73
Sing!
74
Make sure the front tip of your tongue is downward and not upward, but that the back of your tongue is upward, touching the soft palate.
75
Mmm.
76
Mmm.
77
Then try to very slowly transition from the /ŋ / sound to the /ɑ / sound.
78
If you do it too quickly, you will hear the tongue and soft palate moving away from each other, causing a little click pop or abrupt transition.
79
Ngaa...
80
Nga.
81
Mmm...ga...
82
That popping sound is your indicator that you are not going gradually enough.
83
The goal is to be able to go back and forth between ㄴ and ㄴ without hearing any abrupt transitions.
84
*Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Notice the change in sound quality over the course of the exercise.
85
The only change physically is the coordination of the soft palate and the back of the tongue.
86
Exercise number three we call "Speaking Through the Nose".
87
As a matter of habit, we tend to make our sounds with a certain amount of nasal resonance.
88
There are three sounds in English that have their sound 100 % in the nose.
89
These are the M, Mm.
90
n, n, and ng sounds.
91
But for the rest of our sounds, we send them primarily through the mouth with some nasal resonance at times.
92
Thus, it can be tricky to add some nasal resonance to specific sounds while doing one of our voices.
93
The best way to do this is to first learn how to speak entirely through the nose, not allowing any sound to go through the mouth.
94
That sounds like this.
95
To do this, you will need to first hold out an NG sound.
96
Aaaaaaaaaa Then see if you can articulate while keeping the back of the tongue and the soft palate fixed.
97
You'll find that on some sounds you will want to raise the palate and drop the tongue a bit, but try not to.
98
Exercise number four: Voice imitation for a raised palate.
99
To speak with a raised palate, there are certain voices we can imitate to help us.
100
Speaking like your nose is clogged, Bob.
101
Man, I'm sick.
102
"Mom, my nose is stuffed !" will give you a mouth -only sound.
103
If you think about when you are sick, your nose is full of junk.
104
Therefore, sound cannot resonate in the nasal cavity.
105
Also, doing a stereotypical opera voice can help to raise the palate.
106
One more exercise.
107
Exercise number five we call plosive buildup.
108
There are a few sounds in the English language that we call plosives.
109
These are B T.
110
the "K" and "G".
111
In order to make these sounds, air pressure needs to build up and then explode.
112
In order to get that air pressure to build up, however, the soft palate has to raise up all the way.
113
If that soft palate did not raise up, sound or air could escape through the nose, and we wouldn't be able to make these sounds.
114
Huh.
115
What?
116
Huh?
117
Therefore, one great way to feel the palate raising is to build up air pressure like you're going to do a plosive.
118
Let's use the sound "b" for example.
119
And as you build up that air pressure beforehand, you'll actually feel your palate go up.
120
Ooh.
121
Buh! or Bah!
122
If you don't release the explosion, you'll feel the palette raise up and then drop back down.
123
Mm.
124
Mm -hmm.
125
Hopefully these exercises have given you better control over lowering and raising the soft palate.
126
Use a mirror often to see if you can see the palette moving.
127
Raising your eyebrows
128
or doing a gasp like you are scared will help to cause the palette to move
129
and you'll be able to see this in your reflection.
130
Be sure to focus and be as mindful as possible to gain better awareness of
131
when the muscles activate to move the soft palate.
132
Over time, you will be very aware and have complete control.
133
Be sure to check out future episodes of Voice Breakdown, the show where we teach you how to imitate some of the most iconic voices.
134
See you next time.
✨ Recomendar Video
C12
223 oraciones
How to Get Smooth, Bright Vocals
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C11
117 oraciones
How to practice the English way of thinking
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
34 oraciones
5 Aspects of a Powerful Speaking Voice
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
164 oraciones
why you hate your recorded voice (and how to fix it)
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
![American Accent🇺🇸: Master the FLAP T and R transition [water, daughter, better, computer]](https://img.youtube.com/vi/RdAiGn7RB4I/mqdefault.jpg)
B1133 oraciones
American Accent🇺🇸: Master the FLAP T and R transition [water, daughter, better, computer]
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
99 oraciones
How I Teach Actors in Hollywood to Speak with an American Accent
American AccentBusiness EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C19
183 oraciones
My Daily Routine For A Deeper, Richer, Stronger Voice (Only 9 Mins/Day!)
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
70 oraciones
Improve Your English Pronunciation Fast with This Practice
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B26
113 oraciones
American English Intonation | Reduce Interruptions & Send Clear Messages
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B12
124 oraciones
REPLAY: American English Voice Placement | Learn American English! #americanaccent #americanenglish
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B22
199 oraciones
9 ways to Speak Softly and Look More Confident
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B23
96 oraciones
Think faster and speak 🗣️
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
Vocabulario y notas de pronunciación para esta lección
Esta lección de conversación de nivel C1 se basa en el vídeo “Component Focus - “How Do I Control My Soft Palate?” - Voice Breakdown”. Las palabras que más se repiten: sound, palate, soft, mouth, nose. Este vídeo tiene 134 frases y 1564 palabras para practicar shadowing. La parte hablada dura 10:32. El hablante mantiene un ritmo constante de unas 148 palabras por minuto, cómodo para el shadowing. El 83 % de las palabras está entre las 3.000 más comunes del inglés; conviene repasar el resto antes de empezar.
Vocabulario clave de este vídeo
Las 15 palabras más avanzadas del vídeo, con su pronunciación y significado:
| Palabra | Pronunciación | Significado |
|---|---|---|
| palate sustantivo | /ˈpæl.ət/ | paladar |
| nasal adjetivo | /ˈneɪ.zəl/ | nasal |
| resonance sustantivo | /ˈɹɛzənəns/ | resonancia |
| palette sustantivo | /ˈpælɪt/ | paleta |
| imitate verbo | /ˈɪmɪteɪt/ | imitar |
| plosive sustantivo | /ˈpləʊsɪv/ | oclusiva, plosiva |
| abrupt adjetivo | /əˈbɹʌpt/ | repentino, súbito |
| exhale verbo | /ˌɛksˈheɪ̯l/ | espirar, exhalar |
| mindful adjetivo | /ˈmaɪnd.fl̩/ | consciente, cognoscente |
| mushy adjetivo | /ˈmʌ.ʃi/ | blando, pastoso |
| manipulate verbo | /məˈnɪp.jʊ.leɪt/ | manipular |
| backward adjetivo | /ˈbækwɚd/ | retrógrado |
| activate verbo | /ˈæktɪˌveɪt/ | activar |
| alveolar adjetivo | /ælˈvi.ə.lɚ/ | alveolar |
| buildup sustantivo | /ˈbɪldʌp/ | prolegómeno, preámbulo |
Phrasal verbs que vas a escuchar
| Palabra | Significado |
|---|---|
| go through verbo | atravesar |
| hold out verbo | extender |
| check out verbo | investigar, chequear |
| figure out verbo | averiguar, captar |
| go up verbo | subir |
Gramática en este vídeo
Las estructuras que más usa el hablante, con las palabras exactas del vídeo:
| Estructura | En el vídeo |
|---|---|
| Oraciones condicionales if + oración, will/would + verbo — una condición y su resultado | If you don't release the explosion, you'll feel |
| Present perfect have/has + participio pasado — una acción pasada que sigue importando ahora | have mentioned · have heard · have done |
| Voz pasiva be + participio pasado — importa lo que ocurre, no quién lo hace | will be focused · are directed · is forced |
Pronunciación a tener en cuenta
El hablante usa 12 contracciones y formas reducidas, como you'll, you're, can't. Dilas en su forma corta, tal como las oyes.
- Los sonidos de “sh” y “zh”: mushy /ˈmʌ.ʃi/, imitation /ɪmɪˈteɪ̯ʃən/, combinations /kɑmbɪˈneɪʃənz/, sensation /sɛnˈseɪʃən/, coordination /kəʊˌɔːdɪˈneɪʃən/
- Palabras largas — cuida el acento: manipulate /məˈnɪp.jʊ.leɪt/, alveolar /ælˈvi.ə.lɚ/, imitation /ɪmɪˈteɪ̯ʃən/, stereotypical /ˌstɛɹ.iː.əˈtɪp.ɪ.kəl/, articulate /ɑːɹˈtɪk.jə.leɪt/
Sonidos difíciles para hispanohablantes:
- s + consonante al inicio — sin añadir una “e” delante: stereotypical /ˌstɛɹ.iː.əˈtɪp.ɪ.kəl/, scare /skɛɚ/
- /v/ — no es /b/: los dientes tocan el labio inferior: plosive /ˈpləʊsɪv/, activate /ˈæktɪˌveɪt/, alveolar /ælˈvi.ə.lɚ/, passively /ˈpæs.ɪv.li/, cavity /ˈkæv.ɪt.i/
- /z/ — sonora, no /s/: nasal /ˈneɪ.zəl/, resonance /ˈɹɛzənəns/, resonate /ˈɹɛz.əˌneɪt/, combinations /kɑmbɪˈneɪʃənz/
Cómo practicar con este vídeo
- Escucha el vídeo entero una vez sin hablar y anota las palabras que no conoces.
- Haz shadowing frase por frase a velocidad normal, repitiendo cada una hasta que tu ritmo coincida con el del hablante.
- Grábate y compara con el original, prestando atención a palabras como palate, nasal, resonance.
¿Qué es la Técnica de Shadowing?
Shadowing es una técnica de aprendizaje de idiomas respaldada por la ciencia, desarrollada originalmente para la formación de intérpretes profesionales y popularizada por el políglota Dr. Alexander Arguelles. El método es simple pero poderoso: escuchas audio en inglés nativo y lo repites en voz alta de inmediato, como una sombra que sigue al hablante con solo 1-2 segundos de retraso. A diferencia de la escucha pasiva o los ejercicios de gramática, el shadowing obliga a tu cerebro y músculos de la boca a procesar y reproducir simultáneamente patrones de habla reales. Las investigaciones muestran que mejora significativamente la precisión de la pronunciación, la entonación, el ritmo, el habla conectada, la comprensión auditiva y la fluidez al hablar, convirtiéndola en una de las metodologías más efectivas para la preparación del IELTS Speaking y la comunicación en inglés en el mundo real.