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EyeSeeYou Posted 13 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation
/s/, /z/: hardest sounds in English. Agree?
Despite there existing some rules (and exceptions) as to when the "s" acquires an /s/ or /z/ sound, it still remains the most difficult phonetic issue in English. Do you agree?
Also, how does it work for English natives? I guess this may apply to any kind of sound, actually), but I mean how do you know when to pronounce the "s" with an /s/ or /z/ sound? I asume some words are so frequently used that you end up copying the sound but what about those new words you face? How do you approach them?
Also, how does it work for English natives? I guess this may apply to any kind of sound, actually), but I mean how do you know when to pronounce the "s" with an /s/ or /z/ sound? I asume some words are so frequently used that you end up copying the sound but what about those new words you face? How do you approach them?
Top answer
It's just automatic. We don't think about it because we've learned to pronounce the words from when we were small. For new words, we follow the rules, but we don't really think about them or realise we are using rules because they are part of our integral language usage.
- It's just automatic.
- We don't think about it because we've learned to pronounce the words from when we were small.
- For new words, we follow the rules, but we don't really think about them or realise we are using rules because they are part of our integral language usage.
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9 Answers
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It's just automatic. 
We don't think about it because we've learned to pronounce the words from when we were small. For new words, w
We don't think about it because we've learned to pronounce the words from when we were small. For new words, w
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We imitate what others say. I just thought of the word "advertisement", which in AmE is pronounced with a "z", but in BrE it's pronounced with an "s" (and the stresses are different also).
New words that we learn from reading are mispronounced all the time. I just encountered the word "respite" which isn't pronounced the way it looks.
New words that we learn from reading are mispronounced all the time. I just encountered the word "respite" which isn't pronounced the way it looks.
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EyeSeeYouDespite there existing some rules (and exceptions) as to when the "s" acquires an /s/ or /z/ sound, it still remains the most difficult phonetic issue in English. Do you agree?It's hard to say. It is a difficult phonetic issue, but I don't know if it's the most difficult one.
EyeSeeYouwhat about those new words you fac
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I see.
Just to clear this up: is the letter Z always pronounced as /z/?
Just to clear this up: is the letter Z always pronounced as /z/?
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EyeSeeYouis the letter Z always pronounced as /z/?No. Almost always, but not always.
azure, seizure = /'æ ??r/, /'si ??r/
Ritz, Fritz, blitz = /r?ts/, /fr?ts/, bl?ts/
waltz = /w?ls/
CJ
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Which sound is hardest to learn depends on the student's native language. For example, Japanese speakers have real trouble with "L."
The essential sound English shares with only one other language (Icelandic) is the hard "th." ESL students who haven't grown up hearing it have a very hard time learning it.
The essential sound English shares with only one other language (Icelandic) is the hard "th." ESL students who haven't grown up hearing it have a very hard time learning it.
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AnonymousThe essential sound English shares with only one other language (Icelandic) is the hard "th."I assume you mean the voiced version. Actually, the intervocalic "d" in Spanish also has this sound.
CJ
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The unvoiced version is also used in European Spanish. Interesting subject though. I didn't realise the sound was so rare in world languages.
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ElanguestThe unvoiced version is also used in European Spanish.And in Greek.
CJ
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