Explanation
A deliberately difficult sound sequence that sets similar articulatory movements against one another in rapid succession. Turns sound structure into a bodily test of speech planning.
Example
Six slippery snails slid slowly seaward.
Counterexample
Two swallows sit on a branch.
Distinction
Unlike alliteration, a tongue twister aims at articulatory difficulty rather than merely repeating initial sounds.
Effect on thought and perception
Turns sound structure into a bodily test of speech planning.
Resonance
The mouth encounters language as an obstacle course, not merely as a carrier of meaning.
Cite this entry
Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Tongue twister“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-RES6-0012. ATLAS 251, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-RES6-0012The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. A verified modification date per entry is not yet available. Include your access date for precise references.