Nasals

Nasals are a group of sounds in the English language that are produced by allowing the air to escape through the nose. The three nasals in English are /m/, /n/, and /ŋ/.

Features of Nasal Sounds

Oral closure: Nasal sounds are produced by closing the oral cavity (mouth) and allowing the air to escape through the nasal cavity.
Nasal resonance: The sound produced resonates in the nasal cavity, giving nasals their distinct quality.

Examples of Nasal Sounds

/m/: as in "mug"
/n/: as in "no"
/ŋ/: as in "sing"

Study Guide for Nasals

To practice and master the nasals, follow these steps:

Articulation: Practice forming the sound by closing your mouth and letting the air pass through your nose for each nasal sound.
Word Recognition: Identify words that contain the nasal sounds and practice pronouncing them.
Minimal Pairs: Find minimal pairs (words that differ by only one sound) with nasals to distinguish between them, e.g., "sing" and "sin".
Reading Aloud: Choose a passage or a story with a variety of nasal sounds and practice reading it aloud to improve fluency.

Mastering nasals is essential for clear and effective communication in English.