How to Say Coal, Core, Cold and Cord

How to  Say Coal and Core, so you don't sound like "Co" and "Co."
This lesson has a video.  Click here.

If your tongue isn't strong enough, no one will hear the L, unless you do this:

CO + W + UL

1) Round your lips for O.
2) Round your lips even more for W.  Your lips will grow forward. (W connects the O, or any round and tense back vowel, to the next vowel.
3) Put a Schwa in front of the L to make the L more noticeable.

This 3 step process is most noticeable when "coal" is at the end of a phrase.  By stretching the word out, we can give it intonation.

I want to buy some coal.

Be sure to say it all in one breath of air!  The air should exit your mouth at a  constant rate.  You will go up on "CO" and down on "WUL" However, don't have 2 puffs of air; in other words, don't let the 2 parts of the word be sharply contrasted.  The up and down should be rounded out.

Suppose the word "coal" is not at the end of a phrase.
"coal miner"
Now I stress "coal" but go down on "miner."  So I have less time to stretch "coal."  I will still have the two parts, but everything will be faster.    Otherwise, you might sound like "co-miner"

How do you make the L at the end of "coal"?   It's not the same as the L in "light."  Don't raise the tip of your tongue to the top of your mouth, like in "light."  Don't make a clear L;  instead make a dark L.

To make a Dark L, try putting a pencil or popsicle stick in your mouth.  Rest it on your bottom teeth.  Let the front of your tongue press up against the stick.  Make your tongue tense and really push up on the stick.  The tongue can't go higher than the stick and that's what we want.

Now try it without the stick, but pretend the stick is still there.  Your tongue will be tense.  At the same time, feel the area between your chin and throat.  Something tense pops out of that area.  That's the back of your tongue working hard to make the Dark L sound.  There will be tension in your throat too.  If you're not used to the Dark L, this tension will make you tired.  Practice every day.  It's like going to the gym to make your arms stronger.  You need to make your tongue stronger for Dark L.

The whole word is "Coal."  The 2nd half of the word is lower-pitched.  It will sink down into your chest.

How about "Cold?"  How do we add the D?   It's not a true D, as in "dog."  It's a held D.  I make it by swallowing or cutting off my air supply in my throat.  Do it suddenly and you'll have a  held D.

How about "Core?"

CO + W + ER

To make ER, pinch the corners of the lips, to make your mouth narrow.  Then pull your tongue straight backward, like you're going to swallow it.  Because your mouth is narrow, the sides of your tongue will touch the inside edges of the top molars.    Practice pulling your tongue backward to develop tongue strength.

You can also say "cord" if you stop exhaling.   The sudden stop of air will create the held D.    If you don't hold the OR long enough, it will sound like "court."  So stretch out the "OR."

Let's practice:  Coal Core Cold Cord Repetition Audio

Repeat after me  Observe carefully and then imitate:

coal
cold
core
cord
coal cold
core cord
soul sore
toll tore
bowl bore
dole door
foal four
goal gore
hole whore
mole more
pole pour
coal miner
I want to buy some coal.
The worm ate through the apple's core.
They scored four goals.
She poured milk in the bowl.
I need more old doors.
It's boring to do chores.
Scroll through the whole text.

Questions?  See www.smooth-english.com