1

I have some difficults perceiving the differences between sounds very similars (to my ears). For example words like bad and bed sounds very similar. Live and leave too. Though listenig cautiously I can hear the differences between them. But the TH sound (both of them) is very difficult, because sometimes I can perceive them clearly, when they come in the end or sometimes in the middle. For example teeth, health, father, weather (most of time).

The main "problem" is when the TH is not produced in the canonical form and sounds like a approximant.

I am referring as the canonical TH sound that one that continuously flow air and sounds like S and Z said with a lisp effect.

For example, when native says teeth, most of time this final unvoiced TH sounds as a S with a lisp (to my native ears). But other times this sounds to my ears as TEET.

Now my main doubt is that some words are not pronounced in the canonical form. Usually when they begins with TH. For example, THen, THan, THat sound like Den, Dan and Dat. And THink and THought sound (in these cases I can hear exceptions sometimes) like Tink and Tought. For example I can exchange the soft TH sound for T in my language and it sounds the same to me.

My questions are:

1.Does these words sound this way just to my ears or even for natives is possible to cause trouble?

2.Is always possible to hear the difference if someone says That and Dat? Even if this person says the TH in the approximant form?

3.Is considered acceptable saying both TH in the canonical form most of time ( for example"a thing there" would sound like "a sing zere" but putting the lisping effect in S and Z)?

6
  • 3
    The sounds when pronounced by native speakers are not usually misunderstood by native speakers. Foreigners might say or hear the sounds differently because of what their native language uses.
    – zondo
    Apr 8, 2016 at 0:27
  • 2
    What is your native language, and do the sounds you have trouble with exist in your language? And if so, are such different sound distinguishable in your language?
    – user3169
    Apr 8, 2016 at 2:01
  • 1
    THen, THan, THat, THink and THought sound different from Den, Dan, Dat, Tink and Tought when said by native English speakers. The old Chicago Cubs infield is Tinker to Evers to Chance and never THinker to Evers to Chance. Who? Apr 8, 2016 at 2:29
  • 1
    As the others have said, generally native speakers do not have much of a problem with hearing pronunciations. However, there are those with some (strong) accents that can make it difficult to understand them. For example, I had a supervisor who constantly pronounced 'room' with a short 'o' sound and 'rolled' the 'r'. I can picture 'th' and 'd' sounds being hard to differentiate in some accents, but usually the context gives it away (especially for all the examples you listed above).
    – Inazuma
    Apr 8, 2016 at 14:21
  • 1
    Perhaps someone else can expand on this, but I recall reading that the verbal sounds we learn to recognize are those that exist in our native language (the language we hear as a baby and child). Different sounds later found in another language can be difficult to comprehend as they were not originally included.
    – user3169
    Apr 8, 2016 at 17:05

1 Answer 1

1

All feedback in the comments is very good. To the native speakers, these sounds pose no ambiguity.

Additionally, I can attest that even for a non-native speaker, these sounds are not an issue of confusion, as long as the other person uses / creates them (the sounds) properly.

I can also attest that I cannot understand the subtle differences in speech in other languages, and colleagues make (friendly) fun of me. The same happens when I try to pronounce some words - regardless of their patience, I cannot (yet) get it right.

Currently I try to help colleagues (in Slavic country) to improve their English level. The strong conclusion that I reached was that "problems" of listening and speaking are actually problems of training.

What I mean: if you speak (a lot) and listen (a lot) to proper English, you will get to the point to understand the subtle differences with no effort.

Conclusion: the key to get rid of this problem is practice.

My kind advice:

  • listen as much as possible native English speaking. If you do not have friends, use movies. Some movies are more helpful, others less, depending on how they speak English. It can be less helpful if they speak fast and / or with specific strong accents.
  • practice to pronounce the words as correct as possible. Do not simplify by using "s" or "z" or "d" instead of "th". If you simplify, you only delay the moment when you will speak good English.

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .