Hadar Shemesh explains the American flap T, where T sounds like a soft D between vowels in unstressed syllables. Words like sitting, better, and gotta use this quick tongue tap instead of a hard T, making speech sound more natural and connected.
This is the second lesson on the American t, and today we'll talk about the soft flap t, as in the word sitting. Sitting. The soft or flat t appears between two vowels in an unstressed syllable. It is spelled with a t or a double t, but is pronounced as a short, very soft d. D. Sitting. Sitting. It is not a regular strong d sidding sitting, but flapped with lots of air. Sitting. Let's imagine that the air is moving the tongue and the tongue cannot stop it, but can only lightly interrupt it by touching the upper palate quickly. Sitting. Sitting. Writing Attitude. Some may even say it sounds like a short flipped R, like in Spanish, pero sitting. Try it. But ultimately it doesn't matter what you call it, a D, an R, or a t. This is the sound and quality that you're looking for. Sitting. Let's practice in some more words. Betty. Not Betty. Betty. Photograph Photograph Better letter, greater cutting Totally. We also flip the T when it's between two words, only if it's between two vowels as well. Since we connect words in English, it behaves as if it's in the same word. Get it? Get it? Not get it. Get it. Out of here. Out of. Out of here. But it's okay. Start it over. Start it over. Start it over. Gotta go. I gotta go. What am I gonna do? What am I? What am I gonna do? Of course, everyone will understand you if you use the regular T Sitting. Get it? However, using the flap T will help you sound more natural, will smooth out your speech, and will help you connect sounds together and will improve your flow. Get it?
Read Out Loud with me! Dare to Lead by Brené Brown | Pronunciation & Vocabulary practice
