In which way do you pronounce θ and ð?

How do you pronouce θ and ð?

  • your tongue almost touching the inner side of your upper teeth

    Votes: 3 20.0%

  • interdental; protrude your tongue between the upper and lower teeth

    Votes: 12 80.0%
  • Total voters
    15
cheshire

cheshire

Senior Member
اليابان
Japanese
In which way do you pronounce θ and ð?

(1) placing lightly your tongue on the inner side of the upper tongue, and fricate. In other words, your tongue isn't protruding.

(2) interdental fricative (your tongue between the upper and lower teeth, protruding)
 
    • To be honest, I can't even get a sound out when doing it the first way. Perhaps someone could explain to me how that works. :(



    Jon
     
    cheshire said:
    In which way do you pronounce θ and ð?

    (1) placing lightly your tongue on the inner side of the upper tongue teeth and fricate. In other words, your tongue isn't protruding.

    (2) interdental fricative (your tongue between the upper and lower teeth, protruding)
    Click to expand...

    Jon: say 'thing'. :)

    But actually I find the poll question sort of odd, because both sounds can be produced both ways. Or I'm missing something. I mean, the difference is just that the ð is voiced while the θ is voiceless, right?
     
    But actually I find the poll question sort of odd, because both sounds can be produced both ways. Or I'm missing something. I mean, the difference is just that the ð is voiced while the θ is voiceless, right?
    Click to expand...
    The OP knows that both sounds (θ and ð) are produced the same way, and he asks which way you produce them: (1) or (2).
     
    To avoid further confusion, please note that this thread is about the pronunciation of the sounds represented by the International Phonetic Alphabet symbols θ and ð. It is not asking how you pronounce the names of the symbols.
     
    Hi All,

    I wish the poll had a third choice, that indicated I make those sounds both ways (although not simultaneously).

    EDIT: I've chosen to answer the poll with the method I think I use most often.
     
    cheshire said:
    (1) placing lightly your tongue on the inner side of the upper tongue, and fricate. In other words, your tongue isn't protruding.

    (2) interdental fricative (your tongue between the upper and lower teeth, protruding)
    Click to expand...
    I think my tongue curbs a bit more upwards when I pronounce the voiced "th", and stays more horizontal when I pronounce the voiceless one. I'm afraid I'm still not sure about what you're asking. Obviously, I don't stick out my tongue to pronounce either of those sounds (like this: :p), if that's what you mean by "protrude". But if someone is looking at me when I say them, they'll probably see my tongue behind my teeth.
    I hope this answers your question.
     
    Cheshire, I take it you meant "the upper teeth" in your opening post (in accordance with the first option in the poll), not "the upper tongue". In which case, it might be worth editing your post.

    I didn't vote because I think it's better to have only natives participate.
    I go for (2) but would like to add that the tongue is only very slightly protruding, if at all.
     
    I pronounce both sounds with the tip of my tongue slightly past my upper front teeth. Someone looking at me would probably be able to see just the tip of my tongue peeking out between my teeth.
     
    Supposedly, when a person pronounces "th," you're suppose to put your tounge between the teeth. Doing so makes sure you pronounce "th."

    I never cared to do this in the English language. I do it the other way.
     
    In which way do you pronounce θ and ð?

    (1) placing lightly your tongue on the inner side of the upper tongueteeth, and fricate. In other words, your tongue isn't protruding.

    (2) interdental fricative (your tongue between the upper and lower teeth, protruding)
    Click to expand...
    I'm sorry for my stupid mistake! Two days passed, I couldn't edit it. I'm so sorry!
    I think it really depends on the word and how quickly I'm speaking.
    Click to expand...
    Got it!

    Supposedly, when a person pronounces "th," you're suppose to put your tounge between the teeth. Doing so makes sure you pronounce "th."

    I never cared to do this in the English language. I do it the other way.
    Click to expand...
    That's what I thought most natives would pronounce in their daily lives when I started this thread. I don't remember seeing natives actually protruding their tongues while I watch US dramas and comedies. Since it was pointed out by Outsider that I'm not clear as to the meaning of "protrude," I have to clarify my intention. When I used the word "protrude," I wanted it to mean whether your tongue stickes out past the extended line from upperteeth or lower teeth. The confusion seems to lie in that both versions (1) and (2) have one's tongue "protruded." But I meant your tongue is not "protruded" in (1), as it is still with the area of mouth cavity. I should have given more description.
    I pronounce both sounds with the tip of my tongue slightly past my upper front teeth. Someone looking at me would probably be able to see just the tip of my tongue peeking out between my teeth.
    Click to expand...
    Your way (2) seems to be the majority thanks to this poll, contrary to my anticipation. Thanks everyone for contribution.

    LV4-26, you may not be native, but your posts are often more helpful than natives!

    panjy and benjy and others: thanks for navigating this ship!
    I forgot that IPA symbols are not known very much except among linguistics lovers. In Japan, an average English learner knows all the IPA symbols representing English sounds, because they are used in E-J dictionaries.
     
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