The sound created by the Thai consonants ต and ฏ (which I write as 'dt') isn't found in the English language. When spoken, it sounds a combination of 'd' and 't', making it difficult for first-time learners to say. The trick is to place the tongue in the right place and breathe in the proper manner. To point out the difference, here I will go over how to say 't', 'dt', and 'd' in a Thai accent. By following these rules, you should be able to say each of these consonants in a discernible manner.
- T (ฐ ฑ ฒ ถ ท ธ): Softly place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth. It should be resting on the hard ridge at the front just above your teeth. Push a burst of air out between the small gap to create the 't' sound. You shouldn't use your voice box for this sound at all.
- Dt (ฏ ต): Place the tip of your tongue on the back of your front teeth. Push a small burst of air between your tongue and teeth. Again, your voice box plays no role in the creation of this sound.
- D (ฎ ด): Place your tongue in the same position as when saying 't'. In this case, use your voice box to make the sound. You shouldn't feel any air coming out of your mouth.
In this case, 't' and 'd' are examples of consonant pairs. They use the same tongue/teeth positions but differ when it comes to air bursts and voice box use. To tell the difference and to see whether you are saying these consonants correctly, place your hand in front of your mouth. For the 't' sound, you should feel some air brush up against the palm of your hand. For both 'dt' and 'd', you shouldn't feel anything at all.
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