September 15, 2020

Tongue Twisters Week Night Red Letter Yellow Letter (9-15-2020)

by Chompers

Background show artwork for Chompers

Is it a red letter or yellow letter? Either way, it's tricky to say!

Where to Listen

Transcript

>> Rachel: (Yawn) Its almost bedtime, but first get your toothbrush out because it’s time for Chompers, your morning and night toothbrushing show. 


Start on the top of your mouth. Pick a side, and brush the inside outside, and chewing side of each tooth 


>> KIDS: 3, 2, 1 brush! 


>> Rachel: It’s Tongue Twisters week, and tonight we've got another tricky tongue twister to knot up your noggin.  I'll go first, then our Chompion Walter will give it a try. 


Here it is. 


Red letter. Yellow Letter. 


Ok now you


>> WALTER: Red letter, yellow letter. 


>> Rachel: Not bad huh? But now, try it 3 times fast. 


Red letter, yellow letter. Red letter, yellow letter. Red letter, yellow letter. 


Pretty tricky right? I’ll tell you why after you switch your brushing to the other side of the top of your mouth and brush the molars in the way back too.


Red letter, yellow letter may seem like an easy tongue twister, but it gets harder the longer and faster you do it. That’s because the R sound and the L sound are made with your tongue (SFX XYLO) in a similar way but they’re are a liiiiiiitle different. Don’t believe me? Make the R sound like this : 


RRRRRRRRR


Keep going, but now put your tongue on the top of your mouth, right behind your teeth. 

See? So when you say them fast, your brain has a hard time telling them apart, and you end up with 


Switch your brushing to the bottom of your mouth, and brush in little circles all the way around each tooth


Think you’re a red letter yellow letter expert? Try making it a little harder with Red LEATHER, yellow LEATHER. 


Like this: Red leather, yellow leather, red leather, yellow leather, red leather, yellow leather. 


Ok your turn Walter: 


>>WALTER: Red leather, yellow leather, red leather, yellow leather, red leather, yellow leather. 


>> Rachel: It’s a little trickier right?! So why is LEATHER trickier than LETTER? I'll tell you after you 


Switch your brushing to the other side of the bottom of your mouth, and don’t forget your front teeth. 


Adding Leather makes this tongue twister even harder because it means you have to use new part of your mouth into the mix. When you say Red LETTER yellow Letter, your mouth is making all these sounds just using your tongue, and the space inside your mouth. But LEATHER adds the TH sound. And to make the TH sound, you need your teeth! Your tongue now has to flick out of your teeth super fast. Adding that extra sound can make your brain confused and your tongue tired, so you end up with.


Whew! That’s enough red and yellow anything for tonight! Until next time, 


>> KIDS: 3, 2, 1 spit!