Our catch phrase is on its way.
Dear Fellow Earthlings,
Since the bulk of what we do with our vocal tract is hidden inside our bodies, it is not possible to develop a complete target language allophonome by focusing only on those gestures that can be seen by the naked eye.
However, after a firm base is established for the Jingles client, it is possible, by focusing our attention on selected external TRAINING MODE speech motor skills application techniques, to move our clients steadily forward in their quests to at least approximate the speech motor skills techniques handled so adeptly by (healthy) adult native speakers of any language.
A good case in point is JINGLE F, which focuses on developing clients’ F and V gestures. These two gestures are just as plain as the lips on one’s face. However, if they are dealt with before, say, the “th” gestures, or the s/z gestures, they will receive TOO much attention – depriving the voiced and voiceless “th” gestures and the s and z gestures of the attention they need in the early stages of (target language English) Jingles training.
This is why tongue tip gesture training begins on Worksheet 2, and s/z gesture training on Worksheet 12-2 -- but F/V training not until 30-1.
Once F/V training does begin, we hit it with lots of FerVor!. The TRAINING MODE (TM) production of all the F gestures in JINGLE F calls for the client to vary the amount of lower lip biting kee employs with kerm upper front teeth. As for the V gestures, their TM production calls for completely hiding the red of the lower lip and producing them ingressively in the case of word final __V – but with varied lower lip biting by the upper front teeth for all non-word final V gestures.
After the client has mastered all the twists and turns called for in kerm struggle to master the TRAINING MODE production of JINGLE F, kee will find that only vestigial points of development will remain in kerm quest to bring kerm F/V production to a level of employment expertise comparable to that of native speakers of England-based English.
Steve Walker, Earthsaver and Jingles Creator
© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.