The /ð/ sound (th)

English Language Club

5 Nov 201403:40

Summary

TLDRThis educational video script introduces the /ð/ sound, also known as the 'Voiced dental fricative,' found in English words like 'this,' 'that,' and 'other.' It explains how to produce this sound by creating friction between the tongue and the top teeth while vocalizing. The script provides examples of words with the /ð/ sound in different positions, such as 'they,' 'although,' and 'with.' It also invites viewers to explore more about English sounds through additional videos and live online classes, encouraging engagement with the English Language Club on social media.

Takeaways

🔤 The /ð/ sound is a 'Voiced dental fricative', produced by creating friction between the tongue and the top teeth.
👅 To pronounce /ð/, slightly stick out your tongue and position it so that the top teeth rest on it.
🎶 The sound is voiced, which means the vocal cords vibrate to produce the sound.
🌬️ The /ð/ sound is created by forcing air out between the teeth while the tongue is positioned against them.
📚 The phoneme /ð/ is typically spelled with the letters 'th' in English words.
📘 Examples of words with the /ð/ sound at the beginning include 'they', 'though', and 'those'.
📙 Words with /ð/ in the middle include 'other', 'although', 'brother', and 'southern'.
📗 Words ending with the /ð/ sound include 'with', 'smooth', and 'booth'.
🎥 Additional educational resources are available in the form of videos covering various English sounds and the phonetic chart.
💬 The English Language Club offers live online classes and encourages interaction via social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

Q & A

What is the /ð/ sound in English pronunciation?
-The /ð/ sound is a 'Voiced dental fricative' in English, produced by creating friction between the tongue and the top teeth.
How do you create the /ð/ sound?
-To produce the /ð/ sound, you need to stick out your tongue slightly and rest your top teeth on your tongue, forcing air out between your teeth while vibrating your vocal cords.
What is the difference between the /ð/ sound and other consonants?
-The /ð/ sound is unique as it is a fricative, which means it is produced by the high-pressure airflow through a narrow space between the tongue tip and the top teeth.
Which words demonstrate the use of the /ð/ sound at the beginning?
-Words like 'they', 'though', 'those', and 'then' begin with the /ð/ sound.
Can you provide examples of words with the /ð/ sound in the middle?
-Words such as 'other', 'although', 'brother', and 'southern' have the /ð/ sound in the middle.
What are some words that end with the /ð/ sound?
-Examples of words ending with the /ð/ sound include 'with', 'smooth', and 'booth'.
How is the /ð/ phoneme typically spelled in English?
-The /ð/ phoneme is usually spelled with the letters 'th', as seen in words like 'the', 'mother', 'whether', and 'either'.
What does it mean for a sound to be 'voiced'?
-A 'voiced' sound, like /ð/, is one where the vocal cords vibrate to produce the sound, as opposed to 'unvoiced' sounds where the vocal cords do not vibrate.
Why might producing the /ð/ sound feel unnatural for some people?
-Producing the /ð/ sound might feel unnatural for those who are not accustomed to sticking out their tongue and positioning it between their teeth, which is required for this sound.
Are there additional resources available for learning English sounds?
-Yes, there are additional videos on each group of sounds including Vowels, Diphthongs, Single Consonants, and Consonant Pairs, as well as a video explaining the phonetic chart.
How can one book a live online class with the English Language Club?
-To book a live online class with the English Language Club, one can visit their website or follow them on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ The /ð/ Sound in English

This paragraph introduces the /ð/ sound, also known as the 'Voiced dental fricative,' which is produced by creating friction between the tongue and the upper front teeth. The sound is voiced, meaning the vocal cords vibrate during its production. To articulate this sound correctly, one must position the tongue tip close to the upper teeth and force air through this narrow space while voicing. The paragraph provides examples of words that contain the /ð/ sound in different positions, such as 'this,' 'that,' 'other,' 'with,' 'smooth,' and 'booth.' It also mentions that the /ð/ sound is typically spelled with the letters 'th.' The speaker invites viewers to explore more about English sounds through additional videos and live online classes offered by the English Language Club.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Voiced dental fricative

The term 'voiced dental fricative' refers to a specific type of consonantal sound, /ð/, which is produced by placing the tongue against the upper front teeth and allowing air to flow through, creating friction. This sound is voiced because the vocal cords vibrate during its production. In the context of the video, this concept is central as it describes the precise articulation needed for the /ð/ sound, which is the main focus of the instructional content.

💡Fricative

A 'fricative' is a type of consonantal sound that is produced by forcing air through a narrow channel made by placing two articulators close together, creating turbulence and friction. In the video, the /ð/ sound is identified as a fricative, highlighting the importance of the tongue's position and the airflow for its correct pronunciation.

💡Vocal chords

The 'vocal chords' are two bands of muscle tissue located in the larynx that vibrate to produce sound when air passes over them. In the video, the vibration of the vocal chords is mentioned as a key aspect of producing the voiced /ð/ sound, emphasizing the difference between voiced and voiceless sounds.

💡Consonants Pairs

The 'Consonants Pairs' group likely refers to a classification system in the study of phonetics, grouping similar consonant sounds together for comparison and study. The video script places the /ð/ sound within this group, suggesting that it is part of a broader category of sounds that learners might study.

💡Position of the tongue

The 'position of the tongue' is crucial for the production of different speech sounds. In the video, the correct positioning of the tongue against the upper teeth is emphasized as essential for accurately producing the /ð/ sound, illustrating the importance of tongue placement in phonetics.

💡High pressure airflow

A 'high pressure airflow' is a concept used to describe the force with which air is expelled from the mouth when producing certain sounds. The video mentions this in relation to the /ð/ sound, indicating that a strong airflow is necessary to create the friction between the tongue and teeth.

💡Spelling

The video discusses the 'spelling' of the /ð/ sound with the letters 'th', which is a common spelling convention in English. This is important for English learners to understand the correspondence between written and spoken forms of the language, as seen in words like 'the' and 'mother'.

💡Phoneme

A 'phoneme' is the smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish meaning. The /ð/ sound is referred to as a phoneme in the video, highlighting its significance as a distinct sound that changes the meaning of words when replaced with a different sound.

💡English Language Club

The 'English Language Club' is mentioned as a provider of language learning resources, including live online classes. This suggests that the video is part of a larger educational initiative aimed at teaching English pronunciation and other language skills.

💡Twitter and Facebook

The video script encourages viewers to 'follow us on Twitter and Facebook', indicating that the English Language Club uses these social media platforms for communication and engagement with learners. This reflects a broader trend of educational institutions leveraging social media for outreach.

Highlights

Introduction to the /ð/ sound, as in 'this', 'that', 'other', and 'the'.

The /ð/ sound is a 'Voiced dental fricative', produced by friction between the tongue and top teeth.

The sound is voiced, requiring vocal chord vibration.

Fricative sounds are created by high-pressure airflow through a narrow space in the mouth.

To produce /ð/, slightly stick out the tongue and rest the top teeth on it.

Forcing air out while voicing creates the /ð/ sound.

The phoneme /ð/ is typically spelled with 'th', as in 'the', 'mother', 'whether', and 'either'.

Examples of words beginning with the /ð/ sound include 'they', 'though', 'those', and 'then'.

Words with /ð/ in the middle include 'other', 'although', 'brother', and 'southern'.

Words ending with the /ð/ sound are 'with', 'smooth', and 'booth'.

Additional videos cover Vowels, Diphthongs, Single Consonants, Consonant Pairs, and the phonetic chart.

Interactive learning is available through live online classes via Skype or Google Hangouts.

Booking for classes can be made on the English Language Club's website.

Follow English Language Club on Twitter and Facebook for updates and engagement.

Encouragement for viewers to get in touch with the club for more information or to join classes.