pronouncing strapped for cash

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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?

 

  
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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. 


  
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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 

 

  
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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?

 

  
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