Oral consonant Consonants /d/ and /ð/ - SS1 English Past Questions and Answers - page 1

The voiced alveolar plosive consonant /d/ and the voiced dental fricative consonant /ð/ are two distinct sounds in the English language that are often confused with each other. The main difference between the two sounds is where they are produced in the mouth.

The voiced alveolar plosive consonant /d/ is produced by placing the tongue behind the upper teeth on the alveolar ridge and quickly releasing it to create a burst of sound. This sound is often described as a short, explosive sound, similar to the sound made when saying the word "did". Other words that contain the /d/ sound include "dog", "desk", and "door".

On the other hand, the voiced dental fricative consonant /ð/ is produced by placing the tongue between the upper and lower teeth and allowing air to flow through the narrow gap between them, creating a continuous, vibrating sound. This sound is often described as a soft, hissing sound, similar to the sound made when saying the word "this". Other words that contain the /ð/ sound include "that", "there", and "breathe".