Exercise 6.4
Adapted from: Duberman, (2016)
Now that you have practised with both forms of /th/, it is time to start focusing on differentiating between ‘voiceless’ and ‘voiced’ /th/ in your pronunciation. Practise a few times as you say the word list below back-to-back and focus on whether or not you should feel vibration. Then, once you think you are ready, record yourself as you read out the word list. Play your recording to a classmate and ask him or her for feedback.
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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
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Exercise 6.5
Adapted from: Collins, den Hollander, Mees & Rodd, (2011)
Do the following exercise 3 times.
For the first time, copy-paste all sentences into your Pronunciation Portfolio and replace all ‘voiced’ /th/ sounds for /d/s. Then, record yourself as you read all sentences aloud.
For the second time, copy-paste all sentences to your Pronunciation Portfolio again, without making any changes. Record yourself again as you pronounce the ‘voiced’ /th/ sounds correctly.
Listen to recordings 1 and 2 for comparison before you record yourself a third time, when you focus on pronouncing all /th/ sounds correctly.
Listen to that final recording as well, to find out what you need to work on further.
1. That’s that.
2. Is this everything?
3. There’s nothing funny in that!
4. They’ve thought of the very same thing.
5. I think they’re both at the theatre.
6. Is this the first Thursday of the month?
7. Breathe in smoothly, then hold your breath for thirty seconds.
8. Then think of the first thing you thought of.
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