"Rain Bird" Tonguing
I frequently tell students, “tongue like a Rain Bird sprinkler.” I am not alone.
Impact sprinklers, like the Rain Bird®, derive their energy from the impact of a steady stream of water. That energy is stored in the spring when the arm bounces off the water – the water pushes it back – over and over. If the water stops, so does the arm. The water does the work.
Our tongue can derive ½ of its energy from the airstream – the air can do ½ of the work. If the airstream is inadequate, our tongue must make two movements, both to and fro – doing all the work. If the airstream is sufficient and steady, the air will do ½ the work, pushing the tongue back, and we can tongue faster and more relaxed. This similar to, but not the same as, flutter-tonguing.
Tongue with the sprinkler, not the faucet – constant, steady airflow!
Impact sprinklers, like the Rain Bird®, derive their energy from the impact of a steady stream of water. That energy is stored in the spring when the arm bounces off the water – the water pushes it back – over and over. If the water stops, so does the arm. The water does the work.
Our tongue can derive ½ of its energy from the airstream – the air can do ½ of the work. If the airstream is inadequate, our tongue must make two movements, both to and fro – doing all the work. If the airstream is sufficient and steady, the air will do ½ the work, pushing the tongue back, and we can tongue faster and more relaxed. This similar to, but not the same as, flutter-tonguing.
Tongue with the sprinkler, not the faucet – constant, steady airflow!