A list of lisps and the unpronounceable ‘s’

In the Spanish language, lisp is a special way to pronounce and utter particular words properly or to convey a certain word’s meaning efficiently. However, in other languages, speaking with a lisp is undoubtedly unacceptable.

Image Source: leitrimadultguidance.com

Having a lisp, as speech experts, like Veronica Noah, and rehabilitation doctors, like Mary Kneiser, would believe, is not a hindrance for one to live his life normally. It is not an impairment exclusive only to ordinary people. British crooner Morrissey did not let his incapacity to pronounce words with ‘s’ hold him back to achieving a supernova rock star status, and American author Truman Capote’s speech disability did not become a detrimental factor for him not to be blatant during his book signings.

Image Source: warm-glass.co.uk

A lisp is not a disease, but anyone who has a lisp can go to a speech therapist or rehabilitation expert to improve the way he speaks. However, in order to fix one’s speech, a person must first be aware of the specific type of lisp that he has.

The four kinds of lisp


The interdental/frontal lisp, in which the tongue juts on the back of the front teeth, is the most common lisp of all. It creates a hissing /th/ sound whenever the speaker utters a word with ‘s’ or ‘z’ in it.  

Dentalised lisp happens when the speaker’s tongue touches the front teeth every time he talks. Intoxicated people may also produce this kind of lisp.

In palatal lisp, the speaker’s tongue comes into contact with the soft palate (roof of the mouth) as he pronounces words with ‘s,’ ‘z,’ and, sometimes, those with ‘r’ and ‘l’ in it.

Lateral lisp, or most commonly known as the wet lisp, is a kind of lisp in which a wet, sludgy sound comes as the /s/ and /z/ sounds are pronounced.

Image Source: beaut.ie

 This Twitter page has more links to articles related to physical medicine and rehabilitation.