[Avodah] The letter ayyin

[Micha Berger]

As to how to pronounce the /ng/ of the probable lost Ashkenazi ayin...

I wish you could all come over to hear Shuby pronounce the letter "n".

Shuby has the low muscle tone of someone with Downs as well as palate
that is very high and isn't fully closed. The norm is to put the tip
of the tongue to the front roof of your mouth, just shy of the teeth.
Shuby places the rear of his tongue at the rear, just near his palate.
Shuby's "no" therefore is closer to "ngo", but the sound is less
pronounced than the /ng/ in "sing".

I hope the description of the anatomy helps.

SheTir'u baTov!
-micha

-- 
Micha Berger             One who kills his inclination is as though he
micha at aishdas.org        brought an offering. But to bring an offering,
http://www.aishdas.org   you must know where to slaughter and what
Fax: (270) 514-1507      parts to offer.        - R' Simcha Zissel Ziv