The document discusses reasons why tongue twisters are difficult to say. It explains that tongue twisters contain conflicting syllable patterns, regular stress patterns across words, and similar sounding phonemes. This disrupts the rhythm and regularity of speech. Examples are provided to illustrate tongue twisters containing she sells sea shells, six thick thistle sticks, and rubber baby buggy bumpers and how their syllable patterns and stresses make them challenging to articulate smoothly.

1. Tongue Twisters
Yun-Pi Yuan
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2. OUTLINE

Why are tongue twisters difficult?
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Reasons for difficulties
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
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Practice and explain.
Conflicting syllable patterns
Regular stress patterns
Phonetic compatibility
Conclusion
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3. Samples

Say these tongue twisters. Why are
they difficult?
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

She sells sea shells.
Six thick thistle sticks
Rubber baby buggy bumpers
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4. Conflicting Syllable Patterns
(1)
Ex. 1:
She sells sea shells
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Final Vowel:
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
ABAB (ee, ells, ee, ells)
Initial Consonant:

ABBA (sh, s, s, sh)
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5. Conflicting Syllable Patterns
(2)
Ex. 2:
Six thick thistle sticks

Finals:


ABCA (iks, ik, is(!), iks)
Initial Consonant:

ABBA (s, th, th, s)
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6. Conflicting Syllable Patterns (3)
Ex. 3:Rubber baby buggy bumpers
 Initial consonant:
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First vowel:
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ABAA (u, a, u, u)
Middle consonant:
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ABBB (r, b, b, b)
AABA (b, b, g, mp)
Final vowel group:

ABBA (er, y,y, ers)
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7. Regular Stress Patterns
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Four heavily stressed syllables in a
row.
Four identical trochees
“These drumming stress patterns drive
the process along and reinforce any
regularities that exist around them.
Any irregularity, by the same token,
are highly disruptive.”
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8. Phonetic Compatability
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Similarity of sounds:
Examples:
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The sea ceaseth and it sufficeth
us.
The Leith police beseecheth us.
Miss Smith’s fish sauce shop
seldom sells shellfish.
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9. Rhythm and Regularity
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Conflicting Syllable Patterns
(phonemes)
Regular Stress Patterns
Phonetic Compatability
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10. Rhythm and Regularity



Conflicting Syllable Patterns
(phonemes)
Regular Stress Patterns
Phonetic Compatability
Yun-Pi Yuan
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