Take a Test Drive
Don’t just take my word for it – try it NOW! With our free on-line example lesson you can test drive "Speak More Clearly" right now?
American Example
/or/ is a medium to long vowel made by lowering the bottom jaw a little. The tongue tip is resting level with the top of the bottom front teeth. The rest of the tongue is held wide (spread width ways), and touches the inside edge of the bottom teeth on the sides. The tongue is flat in the middle. The sound is resonated at the back of the mouth and nasal cavity. If there is an /r/ in the word it is pronounced.
Australian Example
/or/ is a medium length vowel (held on for a medium length of time when being said). The mouth is held a little open with the lips forward to be quite rounded. The front/ tip of the tongue starts off at the front of the mouth where the teeth meet the gum behind the bottom front teeth. As voice is switched on the bottom jaw moves down slightly. At the same time, the tongue tip moves back towards the back of the mouth and the bottom lip moves up toward the top lip slightly. The /r/ sound is not pronounced in /or/ in Australian English pronunciation.
British Example
This is a medium length vowel. The lips are held quite forward and rounded so that the circle formed between the lips is quite small. The lip muscles are held quite tightly. The tongue tip is pulled back quite a bit and relaxed. The muscles of the middle and tip of the tongue are contracted or pulled in towards the midline of the tongue- the tongue is bunched in towards the midline. The /r/ sound is not pronounced in ‘or’ in British English pronunciation.
Is Your Accent Holding You Back? Get Started Today!
 American Accent | Australian Accent | British Accent |
