Mkyol  +  486335 Sat, 08 Mar 08 11:17 AM How to say it quickly? I have to close my mouth making the p sound, and then the momentum is lost and it's hard to say the rest (i.e. for cash) quickly and smoothly. Do you pronounce the p sound? Or am I just lacking in the mouth dexterity department?   Mkyol Joined on Tue, Dec 18 2007 South Korea Full Member 155

	Annvan  +  486722 Sun, 09 Mar 08 06:17 PM Try saying "strapped" like this - "strapt". Then your mouth is open again on the "t" sound.  Annvan Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006 The Philippines Regular Member 618

	CalifJim  +  487168 Mon, 10 Mar 08 10:08 PM The problem may be that you are incorrectly trying to give the p sound its full value with a little puff of air at the end.  In combination with a following t, the p should be little more than a closing of the lips.  You will not hear a full p. Say strap as stra with nothing more than a closing of the lips for the p part.  Don't pronounce the p.  Suppose that + means "Close your mouth quickly".  Now say stra+, stra+, stra+. When you can do that well, just add the t (stra+t) and then add the rest (stra+t for cash). There is little difference between strat for and strapt for.   The only difference is that your lips close between the a and the t.  Just the closing of the lips is enough to suggest a p.  Don't attempt to make the p any more prominent by trying to give a puff of air or anything like that.  Say stra+t for cash. (I assume the phrase for cash is not the problem.) CJ    CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,389 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Difference Between

	Mkyol  +  487724 Wed, 12 Mar 08 02:53 AM Thanks Annvan for the suggestion, and thanks CJ for the detailed explanation! I have something that I wonder about still: Can I say straft rather than strapt? It makes it easier because the lips are not fully closed in the middle. Or should I try to make it sound more like p, even though it's not fully, by closing the lips briefly like when making the p sound? And also, even if I say straft, would people understand and be cool with it?   Mkyol