Producing /ʔ/

How to produce /ʔ/

When /t/ is followed by syllabic /n/ — as in 'button', 'mountain', 'kitten' — GenAm speakers close the vocal folds instead of the tongue tip. The result is a brief silence followed by a nasal release. Textbook /t/ here sounds stiff to native ears.

Practice the sound in isolation

Say 'button' slowly. Hold the target sound. Record yourself — does it match your mental model of the native version?

A few varied words

• Initial: button, kitten, mountain
• Medial: written, gotten, beaten
• Final: fountain, rotten, forgotten