Our catch phrase is on its way.

Dear Fellow Earthlings,

It is very important for you to realize that 'The Jingles' (the unique, often semantically challenged sentences that I create to help non-native speakers of English master the task dynamics of English pronunciation are not tongue-twisters.

To begin with, let us look at the notion of tongue-twisters. First and foremost, tongue-twisters come into being in a light-hearted way, as an amusement for native speakers. They have no deep significance. For example, such expressions as the following test the mettle of native speakers, providing an opportunity for them to show if theyare adept at producing their own language well or not:

a. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

b. Toy boat, toy boat, toy boat, toy boat!

c. She sells seashells at the seashore.

Although these three expressions prove to be challenging for native speakers of English, they are not so difficult for native speakers of Korean,Japanese, and Arabic, respectively. This is because the speech motor skills employed in Korean phonology can handle 'a.', those employed in Japanese phonology can handle 'b.', and those employed in Arabic phonology can handle 'c.' with little difficulty.

When I began developing 'The Jingles' back in 1980, they resembled tongue-twisters. For example, I chose the third tongue-twister listed above as my original 'Jingle C':

“JINGLE C: SHE SELLS SEASHELLS AT THE SEASHORE.”

However, as time passed, I came to realize that although tongue-twisters do entertain native speakers because they challenge their pronunciation competency, they don't promote the development of speech motor skills.

The Jingles, on the other hand, are not difficult for native speakers of English to say -- when natives are asked to say them in the "regular mode" (that is, in a normal, casual everyday style).

But...

When native speakers who are not trained in JINGLES try to say the Jingles in the TRAINING MODE (a mode conceived by me and used to develop potentials for native speaker pronunciation competency heretofore deemed impossible for non-native speakers) however, those same native speakers have fits!

Steve Walker

Earthsaver and Jingles Creator

© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.