3 Learning initial consonants – z c s zh ch sh r

Pre-lesson activity

Lesson 3 Initial Consonants

z c s & zh ch sh r

[z] is an unvoiced affricate. To pronounce this sound, you need to first block the sound using the tip of your tongue and the back of your upper teeth and squeeze out the air through the channel between the tip of your tongue and the back of your upper teeth.

[c] is an unvoiced affricate. To pronounce this sound, you keep the same articulation position for z, but release strong air. It is called an aspirated sound.

[s] is an unvoiced fricative. When pronouncing this sound, your tongue first touches the back of your teeth without blocking the air in the front. Squeeze the air out through the channel of the back of the front teeth and tip of the tongue.

[zh] is an unvoiced affricate. To pronounce this sound, you need to curl the tongue tip towards the hard palate but not touch it. The air comes out through the narrow channel between the tongue and the hard palate.

[ch] is an unvoiced affricate. To pronounce this sound, the articulation process is the same as zh, curl the tongue tip first, not touching the hard palate, but with stronger air out. It is aspirated.

[sh] is an unvoiced fricative. Similar to zh and ch, but not blocking the air since the beginning. Squeeze the air out through the channel.

[r] is a voiced fricative. The articulation position is the same as zh ch sh but with vocal cords vibrating.