Our catch phrase is on its way.

Dear Fellow Earthlings,

Today we are going to talk about frogs a bit...

First of all, good news on the bullfrog war front: In the pond that I purged of bullfrogs, little native Pacific chorus frogs are back. These little creatures (which grow to only between 8 and 10 mm in length) get their name from the beautiful choral productions they deliver. For this to happen, they need to be safe and secure in the ponds that they occupy. It is with great happiness that I announce their return to a

pond that only two months ago harbored a start-up colony of bullfrogs.

There is still one pond, located near the “liberated” pond, where some 4 or 5 thousand bullfrogs remain. I will attend to that pond when I return to Oregon in the middle of next month...

The other news about frogs refers to the hyoidal sounds produced by some of my clients. Using their hyoid muscles, certain clients create a sound similar to the “N - plus - consonantal stop” sounds found word initially in such African words as “Nkrumah” and “Ndolo”. In particular, clients whose English primary synergy is wanting tend to precede the “j” of the word “Jingle” with this hyoidal sound (made by causing the hyoid bone to move -- with a visible throat articulation in the region of the Adam’s apple).

I use a toy frog that I have owned ever since I was in the 5th grade (pictured below during a session I gave yesterday) to remind clients that they should accompany the onset of phonation in pronouncing the word “Jingle” not with a hyoidal, “frog“ flex but with an abdomen-supported, tongue tip “j” sound.

You have heard of the expression “to have a frog in one’s throat”, I am sure. Just as bullfrogs are okay in areas east of the Mississippi River in the United States, but a bane out west in Oregon ponds, so are cute little frogs pleasant when they are in ponds that serve as concert halls -- but less than pleasant when stuck in the throats of people trying to speak proper English.

Steve Walker Earthsaver and Jingles Creator

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