Module 5, exercises 5.1 - 5.3

Exercise 5.1

Adapted from: Duberman, (2016)

The list of words below contains examples of words that have either ‘voiceless’ or ‘voiced’ /th/ at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end. First, try to establish which one is which by pronouncing the words as you hold on to the /th/ and try to feel if there is vibration going on or not, just like you did in the instruction video. Secondly, copy-paste all words to your Pronunciation Portfolio and highlight all ‘voiceless’ examples in blue, and all ‘voiced’ examples in red.

Beginning: middle: end:

this other with

that mother path

these brother bath

those either moth

think rather both

thing gather cloth

three something sloth

thank anything death

Thursday nothing math

throw although wrath

Exercise 5.2

The rest of this section will focus on the ‘voiceless’ /th/ only.

Listen to recording 5b, which pronounces all the words from exercise 5.1 that contain the ‘voiceless’ th sound and check whether you have highlighted the correct /th/s in blue.

Make corrections in your Pronunciation Portfolio where necessary.

Exercise 5.3

Adapted from: Duberman, (2016)

Producing the ‘voiceless’ /th/ is all about pressing air through a narrowing, which you do by using the tip of your tongue and placing it between your teeth, as demonstrated in the video. You can try to get to the correct sound by holding on to the /th/ and saying the rest of the word after a few seconds, like you saw in the video.

Try this out with the words below.

moth 6. thick
mouth 7. thing
path 8. think
tenth 9. thumb
theme 10. worth

Recording 5b