And Yet More Tips to Improve Your Diction

Betty Lou is heartened by the number of people from all over the world who have come to this blog to try some of the tongue twisters I've posted to help improve one's diction. Keep it up! And while you're at it, try some of these exercises as well. These can be done as a warm-up and will aid in better articulation.

1) Hum. Yes, that's right. Hum. When you first awaken in the morning, the best way to warm up your vocal chords is to gently hum. Choose a note that's comfortable and then gradually hum up and down the scale. "Gently" is the key. Don't push and don't worry about volume. Humming causes the vocal chords to vibrate and shakes off phlegm and other gunk that may have accumulated during the night.

2) Do mouth stretches. (You'll probably want to be alone because you'll look silly.) Scrunch up your face as if you were trying to make your mouth and nose touch. Hold it for three seconds. With your mouth closed, smile as widely as you can. Hold it for three seconds. Open your mouth as widely as you can and then slowly rotate your jaw slowly clockwise, then counter clockwise. If you're like me, you'll feel and hear some cracking and popping. Now, open your mouth and extend your tongue out. Try to touch your nose with your tongue, then your chin, then each of your cheeks. Close your mouth and massge the sides of your face with your hands, especially from your temples down between your jaw bone.

3) Blow raspberries (also known as a Bronx Cheer). This is where you pucker up your lips to vibrate against one another to make a put-put sound of more like pfffffffffftt.

OK, you're all warmed up and ready to talk. Just a few more hints ...

If you're going on a job interview or are speaking in public and it's important to produce the best quality sound possible, avoid drinking milk, coffee and soft drinks. Milk hangs onto your vocal chords and you'll feel like you have to swallow a lot. Coffee and soft drinks contain caffeine and caffeine is tough on vocal chords and the throat. It dries you out which will have you clearing your throat constantly. Soda is also carbonated and carbonation will make you burp (especially if you're nervous). Also avoid sugary drinks as sugar is also too rough on your throat. Your best bet is also the easiest to obtain - plain old water ... not too cold, not too hot and add a little lemon because the citric acid will remove phlegm from your chords. Or try non-caffenated tea. Green tea is best.

Best of luck and happy talking!