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cover of episode 1: The English ’th sounds’ /θ, ð/

1: The English ’th sounds’ /θ, ð/

2008/3/19
logo of podcast American English Pronunciation Podcast

American English Pronunciation Podcast
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Mandy: 英文中存在两个TH音，/θ/和/ð/，它们经常困扰非母语人士。/θ/是无声的，/ð/是有声的，区别在于发音时声带是否震动。我们可以通过两种方法来区分清辅音和浊辅音：一是将手指放在喉咙前，感受声带震动；二是堵住耳朵，比较声音差异。 除了TH音外，还有其他一些辅音对也存在清浊之分，例如B和P，G和K。但TH音的特殊之处在于，这两个发音的拼写相同。在单词"the"中，TH音是有声的；而在单词"think"中，TH音是无声的。 如果你不确定某个单词中的TH音是清音还是浊音，你可以查阅字典中的发音符号，或者咨询母语人士，询问其发音是否与"the"或"think"相同。然而，大多数人对自己的发音机制并不了解，因为我们学习母语是在很小的时候，那时我们还不知道自己在学习什么。 正确发TH音的关键在于舌尖的位置和气流的控制。舌尖要轻触上排前牙后方的牙龈，然后从舌头和牙龈之间呼出气流。舌头可以稍微位于上下牙齿之间，但不需要伸得太靠前。/θ/和/ð/的区别在于声带是否震动。TH音属于摩擦音，发音时气流应该持续，而不是在发音开始时就停止。如果气流停止，则会发出类似T或D的声音。 TH音在英语中非常重要，许多高频词汇都以TH开头，例如that's, that, then, there, they, the, think等。为了更好地练习TH音，我们可以使用句子"Think about this thing, that thing, and those things"，这个句子可以帮助我们练习TH音的清浊转换。练习时要注意避免将TH音发成T、D、S、F或Z音。 在pronuncian.com网站上，你可以找到更多练习资源，包括超过5000个音频文件和最小对练习。最小对练习可以帮助你纠正错误的发音习惯，例如tin-thin, boat-both, pad-path等。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

What are the two 'th sounds' in English and how do they differ?

The two 'th sounds' in English are /θ/ (unvoiced) and /ð/ (voiced). The difference lies in the vibration of the vocal cords: /ð/ is voiced, meaning the vocal cords vibrate, while /θ/ is unvoiced, with no vibration.

How can you determine if a sound is voiced or unvoiced?

To determine if a sound is voiced, place two fingers against the front of your throat and say the sound. If you feel a vibration, it is voiced. Alternatively, plug your ears and say the sound; a noticeable difference in resonance indicates voicing.

What is the correct way to produce the 'th sounds' in English?

To produce the 'th sounds,' the tip of the tongue must touch the back of the upper front teeth while pushing air out between the tongue and the bony ridge behind the teeth. The vocal cords vibrate for the voiced /ð/ sound but not for the unvoiced /θ/ sound.

What are fricatives, and why are 'th sounds' considered fricatives?

Fricatives are continuous sounds created by allowing a small amount of air to escape the mouth, causing friction and sound. The 'th sounds' are fricatives because they involve a continuous airflow and can be sustained as long as breath allows.

Why are 'th sounds' important in English?

'Th sounds' are important because many high-frequency words in English, such as 'that,' 'the,' 'think,' and 'they,' begin with these sounds. These words are among the top 100 most commonly spoken words, making mastery of 'th sounds' essential for clear communication.

What are minimal pairs, and how can they help with 'th sound' practice?

Minimal pairs are sets of words that differ by only one sound, such as 'tin-thin' or 'boat-both.' Practicing these pairs helps learners distinguish and correctly produce the 'th sounds' instead of substituting them with similar sounds like 't' or 'd.'

Chapters
This chapter introduces the two 'th' sounds in English, /θ/ and /ð/, explaining the difference between voiced and unvoiced sounds and how to identify them. It also discusses the difficulty non-native speakers face with these sounds and suggests ways to determine if a 'th' sound is voiced or unvoiced.
  • There are two 'th' sounds in English: voiced /ð/ and unvoiced /θ/.
  • Many non-native speakers struggle with these sounds.
  • The sounds are spelled the same but differ in vocal cord vibration.
  • Dictionaries use symbols to indicate voiced and unvoiced sounds.

Shownotes Transcript

Yes, we have two 'th sounds,' /θ,/ and /ð/and they are both very important.