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Second Error

-TH Pronunciation


Description of the problem:

This is one of the most common mistakes that Spanish speakers face. The “th” has two sounds: one is voiceless /θ/ and the other is voiced /ð/. Usually, people confuse /θ/ with /t/ or /s/, for example, “thank” is pronounced as “sank” or “tank”. They also confuse /ð/ with /d/, for example, “they” is pronounced as “day”. The reason why this happens is that the “TH” sound does not exist in Spanish, also both, voiceless and voiced pronunciations of “th”, are made with the tip of the tongue against the cutting edge of the upper front teeth, and when Spanish speakers try to make this sound, they make it with the tip of the tongue on the gum ridge behind the upper front teeth. 

    Production of /θ/ sound. According to Clarey and Dixson (1963), to make this sound you must: “place the tip of the tongue against the cutting edge of the upper front teeth; the breath is then blown out without voice.” (p. 43).
Examples using comparison: 
  • thank – tank
  • through- true
  • thin- tin
        Production of /ð/ sound. The making of this sound is almost the same as its voiceless form, but in this case, when you place the tip of the tongue against the cutting edge of the upper front teeth, the breath is blown out with voice (Clarey and Dixson, 1963, p. 46). 
Examples using comparison:
  • they- day
  • their- dare
  • though- dough


Excercises

1📌


Instructions: Practice out loud the pronunciations of the words in the following list. Circle the words that have "th" voiceless sounds /θ/ pronunciation in red and the ones with "th" voiced sounds /ð/ pronunciation in blue.

2📌

Instructions: The teacher will pronounce a list of words, you have to listen carefully, repeat the word and then select the word that you hear.
TH Pronunciation de Grecia

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