The /p/ sound
The /p/ sound is a bilabial sound. Bilabial sounds are made by the lips pressing together. The /b/ sound is also a bilabial sound. Try saying “popcorn” and notice how your lips press together initially to form the sound.
Minimal pairs are groups of words that differ in one phonological element and /p/ and /b/ are minimal pairs. The difference between the two sounds is that /p/ is voiceless and /b/ is voiced. Voiceless means that you do not use your voice to say it and /b/ is a voiced sound because you do turn your voice box on to make the sound. If you put your hand on your throat and make the /p/ sound, there is no vibration but if you do the same thing while making a /b/ sound, you feel a vibration. Also, if you put your hand in front of your mouth and say the /p/ sound, you will feel a puff of air, whereas, there will be almost no air with the /b/ sound.
Minimal pairs are groups of words that differ in one phonological element and /p/ and /b/ are minimal pairs. The difference between the two sounds is that /p/ is voiceless and /b/ is voiced. Voiceless means that you do not use your voice to say it and /b/ is a voiced sound because you do turn your voice box on to make the sound. If you put your hand on your throat and make the /p/ sound, there is no vibration but if you do the same thing while making a /b/ sound, you feel a vibration. Also, if you put your hand in front of your mouth and say the /p/ sound, you will feel a puff of air, whereas, there will be almost no air with the /b/ sound.
Following are some suggestions to help elicit the /p/ sound:
1. Blow bubbles and have your child pop them, each time
encouraging them to say the word “pop” by modeling the /p/
sound.
2. Play with play dough. Encourage your child to “pat, pat, pat”
it flat. Do crafts that involve gluing and say “pat, pat, pat” as
you play.
3. Play peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake with your child. Emphasize
the /p/ sound as you play.
1. Blow bubbles and have your child pop them, each time
encouraging them to say the word “pop” by modeling the /p/
sound.
2. Play with play dough. Encourage your child to “pat, pat, pat”
it flat. Do crafts that involve gluing and say “pat, pat, pat” as
you play.
3. Play peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake with your child. Emphasize
the /p/ sound as you play.