Hi everyone, and welcome back to Seattle Learning Academy's American English pronunciation podcast.

My name is Mandy, and this is our 72nd episode.

This is another podcast taken directly from a forum question.

Neva, from China, asked when an N-sound can be substituted for an N-G sound when linking into a vowel sound. The answer doesn't

actually have all that much to do with linking. This substitution can take place no matter what

sound, if any, follows it, as long as it's

part of an ING ending. I want to talk a bit first about the differences and similarities between

the N sound and N-G sound. Both of these sounds are nasal sounds,

meaning the air comes out our nose while pronouncing these sounds.

It seems strange, but it is true.

You cannot hold your nose shut and create a nasal sound at the same time.

It just won't work.

The N sound occurs by blocking the air from leaving the mouth at the front of the mouth,

using the tip of the tongue and placing it against the tooth ridge, that's the bony area right behind the upper front teeth,

and blocking the air from leaving along the sides with the sides of your tongue.

The NG sound is produced by blocking all the air from leaving the mouth with the back of the tongue.

The back of the tongue touches the top back of the mouth in about the same place as a G sound it does.

Only the NG sound holds it there, forcing the air to come out our nose.

Listen to both sounds.

I'll say an N sound, then an N-G sound.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

...