Where is the tip of the tongue positioned when the American L sound is pronounced?

Question

I read on the site that you have the tip of your tongue behind your front teeth, on those hard ridges. However, I can pronounce the L sound by having the tip of my tongue touch my gum, exactly the position where we produce the T or the D sound. But that is because I'm asian, I think the I'm making the L sound. But, is there any difference if the position was behind the back of the front teeth? Would the L sound be more shallow and strong? I felt that my L is too light and quick "like" when I say, "like," it feels like the word is too short and not being emphasize enough.

Answer 1

When I say an "L" word, my tongue is palced behind my two upper front teeth, but right where the teeth meet the gum.

Anywhere else and you get a rather odd sound, as if the tongue is vibrating

Answer 2

After a few quick personal tests it seems to me that placing the tongue on the gums or between the teeth makes a more muffled, if not indeterminable sound than placing the tongue behind the upper teeth. There really is no right or wrong way to make the sound as long as the correct sound is being made. Use whatever is most comfortable and feels natural to you.

Answer 3

The advice on the site is probably the best. The difference is subtle. As you noted the sound is longer if you place your tongue on the gum instead of behind the teeth. This would sound strange to an American ear. I have been stationed in Viet Nam and Japan. I learned only a small amount of each language, but noted many sounds were prolonged as compared to english words. I sure you realize that english is less melodic than most oriental languages.

Answer 4

My tongue is further back when I make the L sound. The tip of my tongue is at the back of my hard palate in front of my soft palate. It doesn't sound right when it is on my gums or right behind my teeth. Hope that helps! I just realized that when I say "like" my tongue is as I described above, but when I say "love" it's behind my teeth. Maybe it depends on the vowel that comes after the L. When I say "last" it is between where it goes when I say "like" and "love". With "luck" it's like "last".

Answer 5

For me, it's a slight emphasis of the tongue's tip behind the front teeth. My tongue sort of curls backwards in my mouth but the tip finds itself behind the front teeth.

Good luck

Saying 'L' with the tongue on the gum gives a different effect like you said.

Answer 6

I just tried, and I pinch my tongue between my teeth for the L sound

Answer 7

when i say words that start with the letter "L" such as "like" "love" or "letter" my tongue is on the roof of my mouth right behind my two front teeth, but not touching them...