pronunciation

[Carol]

Carol earlier:
> > Yes, "unvoiced" is right because the voicebox isn't involved in
the pronunciation of an unvoiced "th," only the lips and tongue. It's
like the difference between "t" (unvoiced) and "d" (voiced) or "s"
(unvoiced) and "z" (voiced). You should hear it clearly in "this"
(voiced "th") vs. "thin" (unvoiced "th"). There's no difference
between the "the sounds of "think" and "thin"--unvoiced in both cases.
> > But try saying "the" with an unvoiced "th" as in "thin." Can't be
done, or, at least, can't be done easily. (If you say the voiced "th"
 alone and hold it for awhile, your tongue will vibrate a little.)

> > montims:
 
> thermometer?  thermostat?  Hiawatha?

Carol again:

All unvoiced. A voiced "th" as in "the" would sound absurd in those
words, wouldn't it? Again, it's like the difference between a soft "s"
as in "see" and a "z" as in "zebra." the "s" is unvoiced; the "z" is
voiced.

Carol, wishing that English had maintained the Anglo-Saxon distinction
between "eth" (voiced) and "thorn" (unvoiced)