Analyzing and Comparing the Distinctive Features of the /θ/ and /ð/ Phonemes in English and Discussing Why Vietnamese Students Struggle with Pronouncing Them

1. Introduction: Rationale In this mini-project, we will analyze and compare the distinctive features of the /θ/ and /ð/ phonemes in English and discuss why Vietnamese students often struggle with pronouncing them correctly. These two phonemes, known as the "th" sounds, are unique to English and can be challenging for non-native speakers to master. By understanding the specific difficulties faced by Vietnamese students, we can provide suggestions and strategies to help them improve their pronunciation skills. 2. Content: Analysis & Discussion 2.1 Analysis of the /θ/ Phoneme The /θ/ phoneme is an unvoiced dental fricative sound, produced by placing the tip of the tongue between the upper and lower front teeth and forcing air through the narrow gap. Vietnamese students often have difficulty with this sound because it does not exist in their native language. In Vietnamese, the closest sound is the /t/ sound, which is produced with the tongue touching the alveolar ridge behind the upper front teeth. This difference in articulation makes it challenging for Vietnamese students to accurately produce the /θ/ sound. 2.2 Analysis of the /ð/ Phoneme The /ð/ phoneme is a voiced dental fricative sound, produced in a similar manner to the /θ/ sound, but with the vocal cords vibrating. Again, Vietnamese students struggle with this sound because it is not present in their native language. The closest sound in Vietnamese is the /d/ sound, which is produced with the tongue touching the alveolar ridge. The difference in articulation between the /ð/ and /d/ sounds makes it difficult for Vietnamese students to distinguish and produce the correct sound in English. 2.3 Comparison of the Distinctive Features When comparing the distinctive features of the /θ/ and /ð/ phonemes, we can see that the main difference lies in voicing. The /θ/ sound is unvoiced, while the /ð/ sound is voiced. Additionally, the placement of the tongue is slightly different, with the /θ/ sound produced between the upper and lower front teeth, and the /ð/ sound produced in the same place but with the vocal cords vibrating. 3. Conclusion: Summary & Suggestion In conclusion, Vietnamese students often struggle with pronouncing the /θ/ and /ð/ phonemes in English due to the lack of these sounds in their native language. The differences in articulation and voicing make it challenging for them to accurately produce these sounds. To help Vietnamese students improve their pronunciation, teachers can provide targeted practice and exercises focusing on the correct placement of the tongue and voicing. Additionally, using visual aids and providing clear explanations of the differences between the /θ/ and /ð/ sounds can also be beneficial. By understanding the specific difficulties faced by Vietnamese students and providing targeted support, we can help them overcome these challenges and improve their pronunciation skills in English.