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

1. Oral closure: Nasal sounds are produced by closing the oral cavity (mouth) and allowing the air to escape through the nasal cavity.
2. 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:

1. Articulation: Practice forming the sound by closing your mouth and letting the air pass through your nose for each nasal sound.
2. Word Recognition: Identify words that contain the nasal sounds and practice pronouncing them.
3. Minimal Pairs: Find minimal pairs (words that differ by only one sound) with nasals to distinguish between them, e.g., "sing" and "sin".
4. 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.

[Nasals] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:

• Cells, tissues and organsScience • Fifth Grade