Better English pronunciation to make things better!

側面開放（lateral release）に関するご質問がとても増えてきましたので、今回はできる限りご質問にお答えできるよう、もう一度解説させていただきます。（lateral release に関して過去に扱った分についてはこちらをご覧下さい。）

/-tl-, -dl-/ という音の繋がりを Lateral release で発音する際に最も大切なことは、舌の側面から空気を開放するときに上前歯の後ろにつけた舌の尖端を一切動かさないことです。（動かしてしまうと舌の中央から空気が出てしまいます。）以下の図を参考にして lateral release による /tl, dl/ の開放の瞬間のイメージをつかんでください。空気の開放は、舌の片方のみから開放されたり両方の側面から開放されたりします。どちらでも大丈夫です。

上の図は上の歯と舌の部分のみを示しています。舌の尖端が上の歯の後ろの歯茎にしっかりと接触したまま、空気が舌の側面から出る（右の図）瞬間を理解してもらえると思います。（空気の流れは赤い矢印で示してあります。）

American では、/tl/ の際の /t/ が有声音化してほぼ /dl/ と同じになる傾向があり、これがさらに進んで fast speech では /t/ 自体がほとんど脱落してしまう場合もあります。

では、いくつかのセンテンスで lateral release を実演してみます。太字で表してある部分が lateral release で発音されています。↓

● He settled down in a little village in the middle of March.
　/hiː ˈsetl ˈdaʊn ɪn ə ˈlɪtl ˈvɪlɪdʒ ɪn ðə ˈmɪdl əv ˈmɑːtʃ/
● Sadly, the hospital was damaged badly during the battle.
　/ˈsædli | ðə ˈhɒspɪtl wəz ˈdæmɪdʒd ˈbædli djʊərɪŋ ðə ˈbætl/
● Fortunately, they all escaped immediately.
　/ˈfɔːtʃʊnətli | wi ˈɔːl ɪˈskeɪpt ɪˈmiːdiətli/
● Audley sent them a bundle of flowers and a metal kettle.
　/ˈɔːdli ˈsent ðəm ə ˈbʌndl əv ˈfla(ʊ)əz ən ə ˈmetl ˈketl/

こんどは文章の朗読で実演してみます。以前にもとりあげたことがある Paddington Goes to the Sales からの面白い一説です。↓

Paddington had never been shopping in London before and he was most impressed when he saw Barkridges. It was much bigger than he had ever imagined. When they were inside the shop, Mrs. Brown led the way to the gentlemen’s outfitting department.
　“We would like to see some bears’ pyjamas, please,” she said to one of the assistants.
　“Bear’s pyjamas?” repeated the man haughtily. “Has modom tried the bargain basement?”
　“Certainly not!” said Mrs. Brown. “I’ve never heard of such a thing! Have you, Paddington?”
　“Never,” said Paddington hotly, and he gave the man one of his special hard stares.
　“He’s been sleeping in his duffle coat, explained Mrs. Brown, “and we don’t want that.”
　“We certainly don’t,” agreed the salesman quickly. “Would the young, er…gentleman care for something in stripes? They’re very popular just now.”
　“I’d sooner have something with spots, please,” said Paddington, pointing to some with flowers spotted all over them. “If I had a pair like those I don’t think I’d ever get lost, not even if I fell out of bed by mistake.”
　“Perhaps you’d like to try them on?” suggested the salesman.
　Paddington needed no second bidding.
　“The changing rooms are on the right,” called the man. But he was too late. Paddington was already too far away to hear.
　“I hope they fit,” said Judy.
　“So do I,” agreed the salesman, gazing gloomily at the piles of unsold pyjamas everywhere.
　It was “Pyjama Week” at Barkridges, and so far it had been little short of a disaster. No-one seemed to want to buy any, particularly in the style Paddington had chosen, and he had a nasty feeling that if something didn’t happen soon they would have an awful lot left on their hands.
(Adapted from: Michael Bond, 1992. Paddington Goes to the Sales.Carnival)

Today’s My Singing
Elvis の “There’s Always Me” という初期のバラードを歌ってみましたのでアップします。Lateral release で発音されている単語が２カ所（little と fiddle）あります。ただ、今回のようなスローなバラードでは、lateral release で発音しなくても大丈夫です。

When the evening shadows fall
And you’re wondering who to call
For a little company
There’s always me

If your great romance should end
And you’re lonesome for a friend
Darling you need never be
There’s always me

I don’t seem to mind somehow
Playing second fiddle now
Someday you’ll want me, dear
And when that day is here

Within my arms you’ll come to know
Other loves may come and go
But my love for you will be eternally
Look around and you will see
There’s always me

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