How many times have you called an office or been called and found the receptionist barely understandable? It’s frustrating. I wish I could tell them to get a book of tongue twisters.
Aren’t tongue twisters a children’s game? Children think so. Who can say one the fastest? Who can think of one?
What Is a Tongue Twister?
The key to a tongue twister is alliteration, the repeat of the same sound in a series of words. Such alliteration can be used in various ways in literature as well as tongue twisters.
“The Bells” and “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe both use alliteration. In the first one, the sounds bring out the sounds of the bells. In the second, it forms internal rhymes tying the poem together.
For children, there are some old ones: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickles; She sells sea shells by the seashore; Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers. Can you say these three times quickly and not trip over your tongue and be understandable?
What Value Do They Have?
The big value is teaching pronunciation. When learning a new one, each word must be said slowly, enunciated carefully. Once the words are mastered, speed is introduced.
No matter how fast a child says these, they must be understandable. This is the value of them. And the reason I wish some receptionists I deal with would get a book of them.
Another value is confidence. A child who gets good at tongue twisters has something to be proud of and build confidence at mastering difficult things.
And these word games are fun.
Writing Tongue Twisters
I have loved alliteration all my life. It gives shape to the sounds of words and language. Another aspect and game would be finding homonyms.
A castrated male goat is a wether. The conditions outside is weather. Making a choice involves whether.
The three became a little story about goats. This led to more. My result was “For Love of Goats”. What will your result be?