Conventional x-ray views of the vocal tract give only limited information about the lingua-palatal contacts occurring during speech production. From these types of data, it is not really possible to evaluate the real size and the exact shape of the vocal tract. When needed, the area at different sections must, in fact, be reconstructed using a mathematical model [S. Maeda, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Suppl. 1 65, S22 (1979)]. A review of literature indicates that little attention is paid to the potential asymmetry of the articulatory gestures. This phenomenon appears, however, to be particularly crucial in speech pathology [Suzuki, Jpn. J. Oral Maxillo. Fac. Surg. 30, 45–54 (1984)], where lingual and palatal asymmetry is often very severe and causes a poor speech intelligibility. But, even for normal speech, there is some evidence that lingual asymmetry may occur [Hamlet et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 79, 1164–1169 (1986)]. Moreover, it has also been suggested that an asymmetrical tongue placement would be necessary to achieve the expected acoustic output for certain consonants [C. H. Shaddle, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Suppl. 1 77, S85 (1985)]. To assess lingual asymmetry quantitatively, it is proposed that the following index be computed: Ias = (Na − Nb)/(Na + Nb), where Ias is the index of asymmetry, N is the number of contacts, a is the right side, and b is the left side. The details of tongue to palate contacts for consonants and clusters in English, French, and Italian in nonsense syllables or words embedded in sentences were investigated. They were read by seven native normal speakers. The data demonstrate for all speakers an asymmetrical lingual pattern. Asymmetry is not language bound and seems to reflect a more general phenomenon. Alveolars appear to be more asymmetrical than velars. For stops, the asymmetry is most important at the articulatory release.