In this study, commensurate data were obtained for tongue motion (coronal and sagittal ultrasound scans), lingual‐palatal contact patterns (dynamic palatography), and jaw motion (Selspot). Two subjects repeated /VCVCa/ combinations of /s,∫,l,i,a,o/. To date, the effects of consonant identity on jaw motion and palatal contact patterning have been examined, along with the anticipatory and carryover effects of the three vowels. Initial findings on both jaw height and palatal contact suggest that the tongue‐jaw coupling observed for sibilant production was modulated systematically according to adjacent vowel identity. In contrast to /s/ and /∫/, tongue‐jaw coupling for /l/ appears to be minimal as shown by the large token‐to‐token spatiotemporal variability of jaw motion. Instead, there is a very stable, yet highly asymmetrical pattern of lingual contact along the outer edge of the artificial palate. Analogous to the jaw's role in sibilant production, this may serve as a stabilizing brace for the tongue to achieve postures specific to /I/ production, which should be identifiable from analysis of the ultrasound data. These results are consistent with a task dynamic approach to interarticulator coordination [Saltzman (1986)]. [Work supported by NIH.]