The document discusses teaching the pronunciation of the sounds [θ] and [ð] to English language learners in Turkey. These sounds do not exist in the Turkish language, so Turkish learners often substitute [t] for [θ] and [d] for [ð]. The document provides examples of words containing [θ] and [ð], establishes minimal and near-minimal pairs to distinguish the sounds, and presents a sample lesson plan to teach proper pronunciation of [θ] and [ð] through articulation exercises and practice in sentences.

1. THE TE A C HING OF [ θ ] and [ ð ]
in
E NGL ISH
A L İ KA RA KA Ş
E cehan SONME Z

2. Pronunciation teaching has its unique place in the
curricula of most of the European countries though
it has been neglected in Turkey so far.
Mispronunciation of some core sounds is among the
fundamental problems in the speech of both
nonnative pre-service and in-service teachers in
Turkey.

3. Of all the fossilized pronunciation errors, the
phonemes /θ/ and / ð/ have always been
problematic not only for Turkish learners of
English but also for Turkish teachers of English
who are already on the job (Hismanoğlu, 2009).
The main reason of difficulty of these phonemes
lies under the fact that these sounds [θ] and [ð]
do not exist in the sound system of Turkish.

4. As it is seen in figure 2, the [θ] sound, which is named
theta, is a voiceless interdental fricative sound
while the [ð] sound, which is called eth, is a voiced
interdental fricative sound as it is seen in figure 1.

5. The voiceless [θ] sound can be heard clearly in such
words like thick /θɪk/, ethnic /ɛθnɪk/ and sheath
/ʆiθ/.
The voiced [ð] sound can be heard in such words like
thus /ðʌs/, within /wɪðɪn/ and lathe /leɪð/. Both [θ]
and [ð] are highly frequent sounds in English
language.
As can be seen above,these sounds occur word
initially, word medially and word finally.

6. As these sounds are not coded in the Turkish
consonant chart, they are converted into the closest
sounds in the mother tongue;which is also defined
as ‟the establishment of mother tongue
interference‟‟ (Demirezen, 2008).
In this case they are mostly /t/ and /d/, to compensate
for the lack of exact sounds in the target language
(Dalton, 1997).

7. The most common tendency is that Turkish learners
replace the phoneme /θ/ with the phoneme /t/ and the
phoneme /ð/ with the phoneme /d/.
Such words pairs can be given as examples: taught /
thought, team / theme, mat / math, boot / booth and
the like.
For the phoneme /ð/, dose/those, dough/though,
dare/there, sued/sooth can be given as instances.

8. To remedy this case, a sample lesson plan on
teaching these problem causing-sounds has been
developed according to the audio articulation
method developed by Demirezen (2004), which is
claimed to be a fossilized pronunciation mistake
breaker.
It is hoped that the sample lesson plan on the [θ] and
[ð] sounds will correct the pronunciation mistakes
of non-native English teachers and teacher-trainees
in Turkey.

10. 1 .M O TIVATIO N – WARM U P

11. 2.REVIEWIN G TH E PREVIO U S M ATERIAL
Students, remember that in our last lesson we studied the articulation of
such words as sin, sink, bass, pass and some. We also learned the
articulation of these words: breeze, tease, closed, bays and rise.
The [ s ] sound is a voiceless alveolar fricative consonant and,
the [ z ] sound is a voiced alveolar fricative sound in English .
(Barlow, J.A. & Gierut, J.A., 2002)
(Baker, A. & Goldstein, 2008:52-56)

12. 3.IN TRO D U C TIO N O F TH E N EW TO PIC
My Thumbies
 Child: Mom:
 I have two thin thumbies You've got to quit. Don't suck thy thumbs--
They're with me day and night. your left one or your right.
My favorite thumb is on my left. It's pushing all your front teeth out.
The other's on my right It's ruining your bite.
 My thumbies always soothe me It might take years to get straight teeth,
when I am feeling sad. with braces on your mouth.
They help me to protect myself It isn't fun. Believe me, son.
when I am feeling mad. So keep your thumbs down south.
 My thumbies help me fall asleep
when I am feeling tired. Child:
I do not know how better friends
could ever be desired. I'm 5years old It's time to quit--
 My mother says it's time to quit-- of all the silly habits.
that sucking thumbs is bad. I don't want people thinking that
And every time I suck my thumbs, my teeth look like a rabbit's.
my mom gets very mad.
THE END!

13. 4.The C orpus of [ θ ] Sound
Word-Initially Word-Medially Word-Finally
thigh /θaɪ/ thread /θrɛd/ ether /iθər/ bathtub /bæθtʌb/ breath /brɛθ/ length /lɛŋkθ/
thou /θoʊ/ theorem /θiərəm/ ethnic /ɛθnɪk/ toothpick /tuθpɪk/ sheath /ʆiθ/ month /mʌnθ
thus /θʌs/ therapy /θɛrəpi/ method /mɛθəd/ bathrobe /bæθroʊb/ teeth /ti:θ/ fourth /fɔrθ/
thistle /θɪsəl/ thicken /θɪkən/ athlete /æθlit/ panther loath /loʊθ/ broth /brɔθ/
/pænθər/
thief /θif/ thicket /θɪkɪt/ pathetic /pəθɛtɪk/ bathroom /bæθrum/ wreath /riθ/ math /mæθ/
theme /θim/ thimble /θɪmbəl/ ethos /iθɑs/ cathedral /kəθidrəl/ mouth /maʊθ/ worth /bɜrθ/
thesis /θisɪs/ thug /θʌg/ apathy /æpəθi/ mouthful /maʊθfʊl/ sooth /suθ/ beneath /bɪniθ/
thick /θɪk/ thrift /θrɪft/ earthy /ɜrθi// bathmat / bæθmæt/ bath /bæθ/ faith /feɪθ/
thud /θʌd/ thorn /θɔrn/ ethic /ɛθɪk/ stealthy cloth /klɔθ/ booth /buθ/
/stɛlθi/
thrift /θrɪft/ thumb /θʌm/ ethereal /ɪθɪriəl/ lethal /liθəl/ lath /læθ/ myth /mɪθ/
thrash /θræʆ/ thrill /θrɪl/ pithy /pɪθi/ zither /zɪθər/ birth /bɜrθ/ wrath /ræθ/

14. 5.The C orpus of [ ð ] Sound
Word-Initially Word-Medially Word-Finally
this’ll /ðɪsəl/ thereof /ðɛərʌv/ either /ˈiðər/ smoother /smuðər/ breathe /brið/ blithe /blaɪð/
thus /ðʌs/ thereby /ðɛərˈbaɪ/ mother /mʌðər/ northern bathe /beɪð/ scathe /skeɪð/
/nɔrðərn/
thou /ðaʊ/ therefor /ðɛərfɔr/ father /fɑðər/ gather /gæðər/ clothe /kloʊð/ blythe /blaɪð/
thy /ðaɪ/ therefore /ðɛrfɔr/ tether /tɛðər/ together lathe /leɪð/ scythe /sið/
/təgɛðər/
than /ðæn/ they’ll /ðeɪl/ dither /dɪðər/ southern /sʌðərn sheathe /ʆið/ seethe /sið/
those /ðoʊz/ then /ðɛn/ feather heather /hɛðər/ withe /wɪð/ tithe /taɪð/
/fɛðər/
the /ðə/ theirs /ðɛrz/ bother rhythm /rɪðəm/ soothe /suð/ writhe /raɪð/
/bɑðər/
these /ðiz/ them /ðɛm/ brother weather /wɛðər/ teethe /ti:ð/
/brʌðər/
they /ðeɪ/ their /ðər/ neither /niðər/ bathing/ /beɪðɪŋ/ wreathe /rið/
that /ðæt/ thence/ /ðɛns/ within /wɪðɪn/ further /fɜrðər/ mouth
/maʊð/
there /ðɛr/ thee / ði/ other /ʌðər/ rather /ræðər/ loathe /loʊð/
though /ðoʊ/ this /ðɪs/ worthy /wɜrði/ another lithe /laɪð/
/ənʌðər/

15. 6.E STA BL ISHME NT OF MINIMA L PA IRS (1)
sheath (n) sheathe (v)
/i θ/
ʆ /i ð/
ʆ
thigh thy
/ aɪ/
θ / aɪ/
ð
teeth (n) teethe (v)
/tiːθ/ / ð/
tiː

16. 6.E STA BL ISHME NT OF MINIMA L PA IRS
(2)
ether either (Am .)
/ θɚ/
i / ðɚ/
i
loath (ad j) loathe (v)
/ ʊθ/
lo / ʊð/
lo
wreath (n) wreathe (v)
/ θ/
ri / ð/
ri

17. 6.E STA BL ISHME NT OF MINIMA L PA IRS
(3)
m outh (n) m outh
(v)
/ aʊð/
m
/ aʊθ/
m
thou thou
/ ʊ/
θa / ʊ/
ða
sooth (ad j) soothe
/ θ/
su / ð/
su

18. 6.E STA BL ISHME NT OF MINIMA L PA IRS
(4)
thus thus
θʌ
/ s/ ðʌ
/ s/
thistle this’ll
/ səl/
θɪ / səl/
ðɪ
with withe
/ ɪθ/
w
/ ɪð/
w

19. 7.E STA BL ISHME NT OF NE A R-MINIMA L
PA IRS (1)
Som etim es an exact m inim al pair contrasting two phonem es d oes not exist
in a language. L inguists then look for near m inim al pairs. In a near
minimal pair only the sound s surround ing the phonem es are id entical.
bath bathe
/æ/
b θ / ɪð/
be
cloth clothe
/ ɔθ/
kl / ʊð/
klo

20. breath breathe
/ ɛθ/
br / ð/
bri
lath lathe
/æ /
l θ / ɪð/
le
Tongue twister time!

21. 8. TONGUE TWISTE RS
1. 2.
A sheath Either
A sword sheath Either of these
A leather sword sheath Either of these ethers
A leather sword sheath of Sm ith Either of these third -rate ethers
3. 4.
Teeth Thigh
H ealthy teeth Thick thigh
H ealthy teeth in the m outh Thy thick thigh
H ealthy teeth teething in the m outh Thy thick thigh in a pie

22. 8. TONG UE TWISTE RS
5. 6.
Breath Bath
Breathing the breath In the bath
Breathing the holy breath Bathing in the bath
Breathing the holy breath with a thief Bathing the baby in the bath
7. 8.
C loth Wreathing
Wool cloth Wreathing Thom as
The thickest wool cloth Wreathing Thom as in a wreath
The thickest wool cloth to clothe Wreathing Thom as in a wreath with wrath

23. 9.GIVING THE RUL E
ð
/ / is a voiced interd ental fricative sound . θ
/ / is a voiceless interd ental fricative sound .
During the production of these sounds, the tip of the tongue sticks out a bit between the upper and
the lower teeth (Demirezen 1987: 39).
To produce these sounds put your tongue between your teeth and blow out air between your tongue
and your top teeth (Baker, 1991: 133).
(figures taken from http://englishgoes.com/en/english-pronunciation-lesson-2-th/)

24. 9. G IVING THE RUL E
SOUND VOICING DURATION PASSAGE ARTICULATOR POINT OF
ARTICULATION
/ð/ thy voiced continuant oral tip of tongue top teeth
/θ/ thigh voiceless continuant oral tip of tongue top teeth
(Nilsen & Nilsen, 1973: 54)
(Baker, A. & Goldstein, 2008:156-160)

27. 10. MINIMA L SE NTE NC E S
1 Elizabeth can easily spell the word THY / THIGH.
2 I don’t like EITHER / ETHER.
3 My father makes a good LATHER / LATHER.
4 How do you say the word LOATHE / LOTH?
5 They will SHEATHE / SHEATH the blade. (Nilsen & Nilsen, 1973)
6 Rachel doesn’t know the meaning of SOOTH / SOOTHE.
7 TEETHE / TEETH is a difficult word to pronounce.
8 Liz told me that she found THOU / THOU on the street yesterday.
9 Does the word WREATHE / WREATH have two ‘e’ letters?
10 Here is an example word including TH: BATH / BATHE.
11 LATH / LATHE is an unknown word for many students.

28. 11. SE NTE NC E S WITH C ONTE XTUA L
C L UE S
1 Julia will EITHER get ETHER or novocain.
2 Please SHEATHE your knife in a SHEATH.
3 The baby’s TEETH will soon TEETHE.
4 They will WREATHE him in a WREATH.
5 Michael is LOTH to LOATHE anyone in the class. (Nilsen & Nilsen, 1973)
6 Don’t MOUTHE a speech when your MOUTH is full.
7 The three children BATHE in the same BATH.
8 My daughter couldn’t find CLOTH to CLOTHE her doll.
9 A SOOTH herbal tea will SOOTHE her.
10 Mine, THOU lord of life, send me a THOU again.
11 Does THY THIGH hurt a lot after the operation?

29. 12. ORA L RE A DING
Instruction: Listen to the paragraph carefully and note
down the words that have /ð/ and /θ/ in it. How many
voiced and unvoiced TH sounds can you find?
Even though my father is a weatherman, he can't predict with
absolute certainty whether it will rain or not. Neither can the
other people who work with him. They say there's only a
thirty per cent chance of rain, and the next thing you know,
it's pouring. They predict snow, and there's nothing for
another five days. Then, there's a blizzard. So rather than trust
my father's weather forecasts, I use a more reasonable
approach. I ask my mother.

30. A NSWE R K E Y
Instruction: Listen to the paragraph carefully and note
down the words that have /ð/ and /θ/ in it. How many
voiced and unvoiced TH sounds can you find?
Even though my father is a weatherman, he can't predict with
absolute certainty whether it will rain or not. Neither can the
other people who work with him. They say there's only a
thirty per cent chance of rain, and the next thing you know,
it's pouring. They predict snow, and there's nothing for
another five days. Then, there's a blizzard. So rather than trust
my father's weather forecasts, I use a more reasonable
approach. I ask my mother.
There are five voiceless TH sound s and twenty voiced TH sound s.

31. 13. C hoose the word you hear!
1 "_____ be good medicine for you." the doctor said. a. This'll b. Thistle
2 Hospitals smell like ____. a. either b. ether
3 He could not speak. He couldn't even ______ the words. a. mouthe b. mouth
4 In 1620, the Pilgrims believed in "love _____ neighbor". a. thy b. thigh
5 Swords and rapiers are kept in a ______. a.sheathe b.sheath
6 The baby is crying. He must be cutting his _______. a. teethe b. teeth
7 Babies usually start to _______ around 6 months of age. a. teethe b. teeth
8 The carpenter is an excellent ____. a. lather (/laythe-^r/) b. lather(/lath-^r/)
9 This shampoo doesn't produce enough _. a. lather (/laythe-^r/) b. lather(/lath-^r/)
10 You hate him very much. In fact, you _____ him a. loathe b. loth

32. 14. PRA C TIC E WITH TONGUE TWISTE RS
1. They threw three thick things.
2. Is this the thing? - Yes, this is the thing.
3. Father, mother, sister, brother - hand in hand with one another.
4. I thought a thought. But the thought I thought wasn't the thought I thought I thought.
5. The thirty-three thankful thieves thought that they thanked the other thirty three
thankful thieves throughout Thursday.
6. Three thin thieves thought a thousand thoughts. Now if three thin thieves thought a
thousand thoughts how many thoughts did each thief think?
7. Thirty thousand thoughtless thieves thought they would make a thundering noise. So
the thirty thousand thumbs thumbed on the thirty thousand drums.
Read more: http://languageavenue.com/teaching-ideas/english-tongue-twisters/sound-th#ixzz14nlidqW9

33. 15. SUMMA RY
•To articulate the voiceless TH sound , put the tip of your tongue between
your front teeth.
•Blow out air between your tongue and top teeth.
•D o not use your use.
•To articulate voiced TH , just use your voice.
Don’ forget that /θ/ is a voiceless interdental fricative sound while
/ð/ is a voiced interdental fricative sound.

34. Voiced and unvoiced ‘ TH’ Sounds

35. 1 6. ASSIGN M EN T
1. In which of the alternatives is there an articulation of the voiced TH sound ?
a. think b. thum b c. thus d . thud e. thistle
a. ether b. bath c. cloth d . thank e. either
a. that b. m onth c. broth d . tooth e. path
2. In which of the alternatives is there an articulation of the voiceless TH sound ?
a. three b. thee c. thy d . thou e. bathe
a. though b. feather c. father d . these e. ether
a. other b. m ethod c. neither d . together e. gather
3. Prepare 5 tongue twisters includ ing both voiced and unvoiced TH .
4. Write d own 3 sentences with contextual clues using the sound s we have
learned today.
5. Write a poem includ ing voiced and unvoiced TH sound s.

36. 6.Consonant Sound PairVoiceless /Θ/ & Voiced
C
/ð/
theater _____ clothe _____
breath _____ bath _____
brother _____ that _____
bathe _____ thought _____
those _____ cloth _____
wealthy _____ whether _____
thread _____ them _____
weather _____ father _____
these _____ think _____
breathe _____ three _____
thumb _____ mouthe _____
healthy _____ teeth _____
mouth _____ this _____
bathe _____ thorough _____
fourth _____ soothe _____
through _____ together _____
smooth _____ though _____
month _____ mouth _____
birth _____ thousand _____

37. REFEREN C ES
Baker, A. 1992. Introducing English Pronunciation, A Teacher’s Guide to Tree or
Three and Ship or Sheep. Cambridge University Press, New York, the U.S.A.
Baker, A. & Goldstein, S. 2008. Pronunciation Pairs, an Introduction to the Sounds of
English. 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press, New York, the U.S.A.
Barlow, J.A. & Gierut, J.A. (2002). Minimal Pair Approaches to Phonological
Remediation. Seminars in speech and language, 23 (1).
Cruttenden, A. 2008. Gimson’s Pronunciation of English. 7th Edition. Hodder
Education, London, England.
Dalton, D.F. (1997). Some Techniques for Teaching Pronunciation. The
Internet TESL Journal, Vol.3
Demirezen, M. (2010). “The principles and applications of the audio-lingual
pronunciation rehabilitation model in foreign language teacher education.”
Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies. Vol. 6 - No: 2, October 2010,
127-148.
Demirezen, M. (1987). Articulatory Phonetics and the Principles of Sound
Production. Ankara: Yargı Publications.

38. Demirezen, M. (May 2004). İngilizce’nin peltek-d (ETH) sesbiriminin Türkler için
çıkardığı sesletim sorunları ve çözümler. Journal of Arts and Sciences vol
1.: Çankaya University
H ism anoglu, M . (2009). The Pronunciation of the interd ental sound s of
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L im ited .
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L ongman Dictionary of C ontemporary E nglish: (2004). The L iving
D ictionary.
International Ed ition , 2004. Essex: Pearson Ed ucation L im ited
L ongman Dictionary of A merican E nglish. (2009). Pearson.
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