keep updated

1000-hours/sounds-of-american-english/1.4-articulators.md

@@ -10,17 +10,17 @@ Despite speaking different languages, humans share the same structure of brain a
 
 <video controls width="720"> <source src="/videos/speech-form-brain-signals.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source>Your browser does not support the video tag. </video>
 
-我们用**嘴**说话…… 更详细地讲，我们讲英文的时候所使用的**发声器官**主要包括：**下巴**（*lower jaw*）、**嘴唇**（*lips*）、**牙齿**（*teeth*）、**龈脊**（*alveolar ridge*）、**舌尖**（*tongue tip*）、**舍背**（*tongue roof*）、**舌尾**（*back of tongue*）、**软腭**（*soft palate*）、**咽**（*pharynx*）、**喉**（*larynx*）、**声带**（*vocal cords*）等等。
+我们用**嘴**说话…… 更详细地讲，我们说话的时候动用的器官实际上很多，包括但不限于：**下巴**（*lower jaw*）、**嘴唇**（*lips*）、**牙齿**（*teeth*）、**龈脊**（*alveolar ridge*）、**舌尖**（*tongue tip*）、**舍背**（*tongue roof*）、**舌尾**（*back of tongue*）、**软腭**（*soft palate*）、**咽**（*pharynx*）、**喉**（*larynx*）、**声带**（*vocal cords*）等等。
 
 ![Speech Tract (zh-CN)](/images/articulators-cn.svg)
 
-We use our *mouths* as a means of communication... To be more precise, when speaking English, key components of speech production include: *lower jaw* (or mandible), *lips*, *teeth*; *alveolar ridge* (the small bump right behind your upper front teeth); *tongue tip* and *rongue roof* or dorsum; *hard palate* and *soft palate*, and then throat areas which can be further divided into two parts: *pharynx* and *larynx*. Last but not least come your voice makers - *vocal cords.*
+We use our *mouths* as a means of communication... To elaborate, when we speak, many parts of our body are actually involved, including but not limited to: *lower jaw* (or mandible), *lips*, *teeth*; *alveolar ridge* (the small bump right behind your upper front teeth); *tongue tip* and *rongue roof* or dorsum; *hard palate* and *soft palate*, and then throat areas which can be further divided into two parts: *pharynx* and *larynx*. Last but not least come your voice makers - *vocal cords.*
 
 ![Speech Tract (zh-CN)](/images/articulators-en.svg)
 
-另外一个重要的方面是**呼吸**（*breathe*）—— 呼吸不仅影响声音，也影响节奏；因为换气的必要，自然语流中总是存在**停顿**（*pause*）。
+另外一个重要的方面是**呼吸**（*breathe*）—— 也就是说，肺也可以算作是发声器官 —— 呼吸不仅影响声音，也影响节奏；因为换气的必要，自然语流中总是存在**停顿**（*pause*）。
 
-The act of breathing also plays a vital role — it not only affects speech sound quality but rhythm too due to natural *pauses* for airflow regulation during continuous speech flow.
+The act of breathing also plays a vital role — in other words, the lungs can also be considered as one of articulators - the breath not only affects speech sound quality but rhythm too due to natural *pauses* for airflow regulation during continuous speech flow.
 
 以下的 X 光视频展示了一个歌手在演唱歌曲时发声器官的活动情况[^2]：
 
@@ -37,9 +37,15 @@ Here's a 3D illustration showcasing the activity of articulators when pronouncin
 
 When you think about it, speaking or singing is like oral gymnastics, but the real workout is for the neurons in your brain and the connections among them.
 
-练习英语的时候，最需要注意的发声器官之一是**舌头**，很多辅音都需要**舌尖**从**正确的位置**开始发声…… 以下展示的是英文中舌尖最常用的 *4* 个位置：
+英文**元音发声**时最需要注意的发声器官是**嘴唇**，有两个元音（及其它们各自的长短版本）被称作 *rounded vowels*，`u` 和 `ɔ`，必须将嘴唇略微凸出并缩成一个小圆形。
 
-When practicing English, one of the most critical articulators is your *tongue*. Many consonants require *the tongue tip* to start making a sound from the *right position*... What follows are the *4* most common positions of the tongue tip in English:
+When pronouncing English *vowels*, the most critical articulators to pay attention to is *lips*. There are two vowels, along with their long and short versions, known as *rounded vowels*, which are `u` and `ɔ`. For these, you must slightly protrude your lips and form them into a small circle.
+
+![vowels-mouth-ɔ-u](/images/vowels-mouth-ɔ-u.svg)
+
+而英文**辅音发声时**最需要注意的发声器官之一是**舌头**，很多辅音都需要**舌尖**从**正确的位置**开始发声…… 以下展示的是英文中舌尖最常用的 *4* 个位置：
+
+When pronouncing English *consonants*, one of the most critical articulators is your *tongue*. Many consonants require *the tongue tip* to start making a sound from the *right position*... What follows are the *4* most common positions of the tongue tip in English:
 
 ![articulator-tongue-tip-positions](/images/articulator-tongue-tip-positions.svg)