Guided Practice Script

Let’s practice the /θ/ sound. When we say /θ/ our tongue gently touches between our teeth. Our tongue only peaks out of our teeth like it’s playing peak-a-boo. Here I have a mirror. I want you to make the /θ/ sound and watch to make sure your tongue peaks out between your teeth but doesn’t go all the way out. Let’s try it!

Targeted Techniques and Considerations

Eliciting Techniques

• Phonetic Placement → tells where tongue should be when sound is produced
• Modeling → uses mirror for easier imitation and self evaluation
• Metaphor → compares tongue movement to the game of peak-a-boo

Common Errors

• Substitution of /θ/ sound with /f/, /t/, /d/ or even /s/

Dialectical Differences

• Cockney and London English dialect substitutes the /θ/ sound for an /f/ (ex: “both” becomes “bof”)
• African American Vernacular English speakers can cluster reduce the /θ/ with /t/ (as in “tink” for “think”) or substitute /θ/ with /f/ (as in “fank” for “thank)
• Irish and New York English speakers can shift /θ/ into a /t/ (ex: “three” becomes “tree”)