Question

My (ta’)is consistently, my teacher tells me, too  heavy-what do you suggest?  

Answer

is a letter that does not have the characteristic of being heavy (it doesn’t have tafkheem), so there should be no heaviness in it.  There are a few mistakes that may lead it being heavy, one is an incorrect articulation point, the other, raising up the tongue in the back.  The letter is articulated from the top of the tip of the tongue and the gum line of the two front upper incisors.  The English “t” is pronounced at a position posterior to the gum line, more on the soft tissue behind the gum (the bump behind the gum).  The Urdu language also has a letter that is pronounced back behind the gum. 

The first thing to make sure of, is the articulation point of this letter.  The top of the tip is a very narrow area, and does not include the big section of the top of the tongue that lies posterior to the tip.  The gum line is exactly where the gums and the teeth come together, and not behind the gums, nor far from the teeth.

The second thing to be aware of is the position of the posterior part of your tongue.  If it is raising up while pronouncing the , there will be heaviness.  The posterior portion of the tongue should be down at rest, not active.