/n/ vs /l/ drilling

/N/ vs /L/
The distinction between /n/ and /l/ can be challenging in certain contexts, particularly when the sounds appear at the beginning or the end of a word. The exercises below are designed to help with this, focusing on the correct tongue placement for each sound.

The key is tongue placement:
• For the /n/ sound, the tip of your tongue touches the roof of your mouth, right behind your front teeth. The tip and sides of your tongue should touch the roof of your mouth. Now, vibrate your vocal cords. Don’t let any air leave your mouth; it should all leave through your nose.

• For the /l/ sound, the tip of your tongue also touches the roof of your mouth, but air flows around the sides of your tongue. Now, vibrate your vocal cords and let the air flow around the sides of your tongue.
Note: For /l/ at the end of a word, or the dark /l// the back of your tongue will also rise slightly (but not touch the top of your mouth).

Please do this slowly so you have complete control of the sounds.
• /nuh/ - /luh/
• /nuh/ - /luh/
• /nuh/ - /luh/
• /nuh/ - /luh/
• /nuh/ - /luh/

Next, practice going reverse. Do this slowly so you have complete control of the sounds.
• /luh/ - /nuh/
• /luh/ - /nuh/
• /luh/ - /nuh/
• /luh/ - /nuh/
• /luh/ - /nuh/

Do each of the following pairs 5 times, then move to the next one:
No - Low Low - No
No - Low Low - No
No - Low Low - No
No - Low Low - No
No - Low Low - No

Nane - Lane Lane - Nane
Nane - Lane Lane - Nane
Nane - Lane Lane - Nane
Nane - Lane Lane - Nane
Nane - Lane Lane - Nane

Nee - Lee Lee - Nee
Nee - Lee Lee - Nee
Nee - Lee Lee - Nee
Nee - Lee Lee - Nee
Nee - Lee Lee - Nee

Nine - Line Line - Nine
Nine - Line Line - Nine
Nine - Line Line - Nine
Nine - Line Line - Nine
Nine - Line Line - Nine

Nun - Lun Lun - Nun
Nun - Lun Lun - Nun
Nun - Lun Lun - Nun
Nun - Lun Lun - Nun
Nun - Lun Lun - Nun

Ner - Ler Ler - Ner
Ner - Ler Ler - Ner
Ner - Ler Ler - Ner
Ner - Ler Ler - Ner
Ner - Ler Ler - Ner

Nin – Lin Lin – Nin
Nin – Lin Lin – Nin
Nin – Lin Lin – Nin
Nin – Lin Lin – Nin
Nin – Lin Lin – Nin