Speech Work: Consonant Contrast: /ð/ and /d/, /θ/ and /t/ – JSS2 English Lesson Note (Third Term)

Consonant contrast is telling apart two similar sounds by comparing words that differ only in that sound, such as tin and thin (/t/ and /θ/) or die and thy (/d/ and /ð/).

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. pronounce and tell apart /t/ and /θ/, and /d/ and /ð/;
2. mark the stressed syllable in words, including words that can be both nouns and verbs;
3. give synonyms of common words;
4. write on the responsibilities of government, starting with a definition of government;
5. listen to a news broadcast and answer questions on its main points;
6. identify the figures of speech in the poem Inspiration.

What topics does this week’s lesson cover?

This week’s lesson covers five topics.

1. Grammar: Vocabulary: Synonyms.
2. Writing: The Responsibilities of Government.
3. Listening Comprehension: Main Points of a News Broadcast.
4. Speech Work: Consonant Contrast: /ð/ and /d/, /θ/ and /t/, with word stress.
5. Literature: Inspiration.

What is consonant contrast?

Consonant contrast is the practice of saying two similar consonants side by side so that the difference can be heard and produced.

• Minimal pair: two words that differ in one sound only, for example tin and thin.
• Voiceless sound: a sound made without vibration in the throat, such as /t/ and /θ/.
• Voiced sound: a sound made with vibration in the throat, such as /d/ and /ð/.
• Common problem: many learners say /t/ for /θ/ and /d/ for /ð/, so thin sounds like tin.
• Spelling clue: the letters “th” stand for both /θ/ and /ð/, so spelling alone does not tell you which sound to use.

How are /t/, /θ/, /d/ and /ð/ produced?

/t/ and /d/ are made with the tongue tip on the ridge behind the upper teeth, while /θ/ and /ð/ are made with the tongue tip at the upper teeth.

Steps for practising the pairs

1. Put a finger on your throat.
2. Say /θ/ as in thin. Feel no vibration.
3. Say /ð/ as in this. Feel the vibration.
4. Place the tongue tip lightly against the upper teeth and let air pass. Do not press the tongue hard.
5. Say each pair slowly, then faster, and listen for the difference.

Other words with /θ/ and /ð/

• /θ/: think, three, thing, tooth, month, mouth.
• /ð/: the, this, that, these, those, mother, brother.

How do /t/ and /θ/ differ, and /d/ and /ð/?

In each pair below, the first word has the plain sound (/t/ or /d/) and the second has the contrasting sound (/θ/ or /ð/).

/t/ and /θ/

/d/ and /ð/

Practice

• Write ten words for each sound.

What is stress in speech work?

Stress is the extra force used when pronouncing a particular word or syllable.

• Syllable: a part of a word with one vowel sound, as in en-joy-ment.
• Louder: a stressed syllable is said with more force.
• Longer: a stressed syllable lasts a little longer.
• Higher: a stressed syllable is higher in pitch than the others.
• Writing stress: the stressed syllable is written in capital letters.

How is stress marked in words that are both nouns and verbs?

In nouns of this kind the first syllable is stressed, and in verbs the second syllable is stressed.

• Words of this kind: export, rebel, subject and increase.
• Noun: stress falls on the first syllable.
• Verb: stress falls on the second syllable.

Which words are stressed on the second syllable?

Many words of three or more syllables are stressed on the second syllable.

• Three-syllable words: enJOYment, draMAtic, adVANtage, imPORTant.
• Longer words: reSPONsible, seCUrity, enVIronment, inDIScipline, reMARKable.
• More examples: parTIcular, sucCESSfully, eMOtional, anXIety.

What are synonyms?

Synonyms are words of similar meanings.

Examples of synonyms

Practice

• Give the synonyms of these words: candid, glowing, oversee, abundant, impolite, strange, endeavour, flimsy, elegant, try.

What are the responsibilities of government?

Government is the group of people with the power to rule and manage a country, state or community.

How should you write on this topic?

• Aim: broaden your thinking on the duties of the government.
• Scope: discuss in detail the social, moral and other responsibilities of any government in power.
• Introduction: start by defining government.
• Examples: cite examples of good and well-known governments of the world.

What duties can you discuss?

• Security: protecting life and property.
• Education: providing schools and teachers.
• Health: providing hospitals and clinics.
• Infrastructure: building roads, water supply and electricity.
• Justice: making laws and keeping courts fair.
• Welfare: creating jobs and helping the poor.

Practice

• Write extensively on the topic: The Responsibilities of Government.

Reading assignment

• Exam Focus, (English Language) P. 18.

How do you identify the main points of a news broadcast?

The main points of a news broadcast are the key facts about each story: who, what, where, when, why and how.

1. Listen attentively while your teacher presents the news broadcast.
2. Note the key facts of each story as you listen.
3. Ask yourself who, what, where, when, why and how.
4. At the end, answer the practice questions.

Practice

• Effective English JSS 2 p. 185 practice 1.

What is the poem Inspiration about?

Inspiration is a poem in which the poet discusses in detail what inspiration is.

• Main figure of speech: personification.
• Personification: giving human qualities or actions to things that are not human.
• Other figures: the poet also uses several other figures of speech, such as simile and metaphor, if they appear in the text.

Practice

1. With examples, write out the figures of speech used by the poet in this poem.
2. Sunrise Poetry for JSS Book 2 p. 26 Activities 1-2.

Evaluation

1. Write ten words for each sound: /t/, /θ/, /d/ and /ð/.
2. With the aid of your dictionary, write 20 words that are stressed on the second syllable. NB: Ensure that the words cut across nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs.
3. Indicate the stressed syllable in each of the following words by representing it with capital letters: (a) contain (b) remain (c) behind (d) protest (e) transport (f) delicate (g) quantity.
4. Write a letter to your sister who plans to divorce her husband, advising her against her decision.

Assignment

Reading assignment

• Effective English JSS 2 p. 183.

Weekend assignment

Use the most appropriate options from the alternatives to fill the gaps in these sentences.

1. Nowadays, Nduka ____ a novel every week. A. read B. has read C. reads D. reading
2. The man ____ by the dog. A. was bitten B. was bit C. was bitting D. was bit
3. Fatimah and one other girl now ____ so. A. thinks B. think C. thought D. thinking
4. The little girl fainted in the heat, but she has ____. A. come up B. come about C. come to D. come off
5. She was badly ____ by the sad news. A. shaken B. shook C. shaking D. shaked

Theory

• The New Student’s Companion p. 83, Exercise 16 B (1-5).