✨Creating an account only takes 20 seconds, and doesn’t require any personal info.
If you’ve got one already, please log in.🤝
Difference between revisions of “Pronunciation and decoding exercises: /s/ vs /z/”
From Teflpedia
m (Text replacement - "A's" to "A’s") |
m (Text replacement - "category:index" to "{{index}}") |
||
| (11 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
The only difference betwen '''[[IPA phoneme /s/|/s/]]''' and '''[[IPA phoneme /z/|/z/]]''' is that /s/ is unvoiced and /z/ is voiced. See [[Voiced and unvoiced sounds]]. | The only difference betwen '''[[IPA phoneme /s/|/s/]]''' and '''[[IPA phoneme /z/|/z/]]''' is that /s/ is unvoiced and /z/ is voiced. See [[Voiced and unvoiced sounds]]. | ||
The letter | The letter “s" is used to spell most words with /z/ and many words with /s/. Many students who are able to pronounce correctly both sounds may struggle with [[decoding writen words]]. For example, they may not be aware that ''goose'' doesn’t rhyme with ''choose''. | ||
More detail can be seen in [[Advanced decoding exercises: /s/ vs /z/]]. | More detail can be seen in [[Advanced decoding exercises: /s/ vs /z/]]. | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
*with initial /s/: | *with initial /s/: | ||
:*with | :*with “c": ceiling - cent - cinema - city | ||
:*with | :*with “s": {{Initial “s" as /s/}} | ||
:*with | :*with “sc": scene - scent - science | ||
; | ; | ||
*with final /s/: | *with final /s/: | ||
:*with | :*with “ce": advice - choice - dance - nice - once - twice | ||
:*with | :*with “s": bus - gas - this - yes | ||
::as [[-s|morphemes “-s”]] for words ending in /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/, and /θ/: | ::as [[-s|morphemes “-s”]] for words ending in /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/, and /θ/: | ||
::*plurals: chiefs - ducks - cups - students - months | ::*plurals: chiefs - ducks - cups - students - months | ||
::*third person singular: laughs - thinks - helps - gets | ::*third person singular: laughs - thinks - helps - gets | ||
::*possessives: staff’s - Mike’s - troop’s - | ::*possessives: staff’s - Mike’s - troop’s - Egypt’s - Edith’s | ||
:*with | :*with “se": dense - goose - house - loose - mouse - promise - release - tense | ||
:*with | :*with “ss": boss - class - kiss - mass - miss | ||
; | ; | ||
*in mid-position: | *in mid-position: | ||
:*with | :*with “c": cancel - concern - decide - receive - recent - society | ||
:*with | :*with “s": analysis - awesome - basic - fantasy - nuisance | ||
:*with | :*with “ss": assign - assume - lesson - missing - necessary - possible | ||
*homophones: C - sea - see; cell - sell; cent - scent - sent; cite - site - sight; scene - seen; | *homophones: C - sea - see; cell - sell; cent - scent - sent; cite - site - sight; scene - seen; | ||
| Line 35: | Line 35: | ||
*with initial /z/: zapping - zebra - zoo; | *with initial /z/: zapping - zebra - zoo; | ||
*with final /z/: | *with final /z/: | ||
:*with | :*with “s": as - does - has - his - is - was | ||
::[[-s|morphemes “-s”]] | ::[[-s|morphemes “-s”]] | ||
::*plurals: bugs - churches - dens - keys - phones - shoes - toys | ::*plurals: bugs - churches - dens - keys - phones - shoes - toys | ||
::*third person singular: comes - drives - gives - knows - tells | ::*third person singular: comes - drives - gives - knows - tells | ||
::*possessives: Alice’s - Bob’s - Carol’s - Dave’s - Ethiopia’s - Finland’s - Germany’s | ::*possessives: Alice’s - Bob’s - Carol’s - Dave’s - Ethiopia’s - Finland’s - Germany’s | ||
:*with | :*with “se": advise - browse - cheese - choose - lose - please - these - use - wise | ||
:*with "zz": buzz - jazz | :*with "zz": buzz - jazz | ||
:*with "ze": breeze - freeze - sneeze | :*with "ze": breeze - freeze - sneeze | ||
*in mid-position: | *in mid-position: | ||
:*with | :*with “s": busy - cousin - desert - easy - houses - music - poison - present - president - prison - reason - visit | ||
:*with | :*with “ss": dessert - scissors | ||
:*with "z": crazy - lazy - razor | :*with "z": crazy - lazy - razor | ||
:*with "zz": dizzy | :*with "zz": dizzy | ||
| Line 59: | Line 59: | ||
*advice - advise; bus - buzz; face - phase; hiss - his; grace - graze; loose - lose; price - prize; race - raise; rice - rise; | *advice - advise; bus - buzz; face - phase; hiss - his; grace - graze; loose - lose; price - prize; race - raise; rice - rise; | ||
*second word is plural: ace - A’s; arse - | *second word is plural: ace - A’s; arse - R’s; base - bays; case - K’s; cease - seas, C’s; decrease - decrees; dense - dens; dose - doughs; else - L’s; force - fours; ice - eyes, I’s; Joyce - joys; juice - Jews; lice - lies; niece - knees; once - ones; peace, piece - peas, P’s; race - rays; since - sins; spice - spies; tense - tens; trace - trays; versus - verses; | ||
*second word is third person singular: dice - dies; false - falls; gross - grows; lice - lies; pace - pays; place - plays; sacrifice - sacrifies; scarce - scares; | *second word is third person singular: dice - dies; false - falls; gross - grows; lice - lies; pace - pays; place - plays; sacrifice - sacrifies; scarce - scares; | ||
| Line 80: | Line 80: | ||
*''Has to'' can be pronounced /hæs tə/.<ref>John C. Wells. [http://phonetic-blog.blogspot.com/2012/08/close.html close], 27 August 2012. Comment by John Wells on 27 August 2012 at 20:2.</ref> | *''Has to'' can be pronounced /hæs tə/.<ref>John C. Wells. [http://phonetic-blog.blogspot.com/2012/08/close.html close], 27 August 2012. Comment by John Wells on 27 August 2012 at 20:2.</ref> | ||
*Care should be taken to distinguish between | *Care should be taken to distinguish between “[[used to]]” and the past tense of the verb "to use": I used to /juːst tə/ use /juːz/ a laptop'' - ''He used /juːzd/ his laptop.'' - ''He didn’t use /juːz/ his new shoes'' - ''He used to /juːst tə/ miss the last bus.'' - ''I used to /juːst tə/ go there to dance. | ||
*The word ''newspaper'' would normally be pronounced like ''news'' and ''paper'' /ˈnjuːzpeɪpər/ or /ˈnuːzpeɪpər/. Due to devoicing it can also be pronounced /ˈnjuːspeɪpər/ or /ˈnuːspeɪpər/. | *The word ''newspaper'' would normally be pronounced like ''news'' and ''paper'' /ˈnjuːzpeɪpər/ or /ˈnuːzpeɪpər/. Due to devoicing it can also be pronounced /ˈnjuːspeɪpər/ or /ˈnuːspeɪpər/. | ||
| Line 86: | Line 86: | ||
==Some curious contrasts== | ==Some curious contrasts== | ||
The first word is pronounced with /s/ and the second with /z/. | The first word is pronounced with /s/ and the second with /z/. | ||
*abusive - abuser; a'''ss'''ess - po'''ss'''ess; abyss - abysmal; crisi'''s''' /ˈkraɪsɪs/ - crise'''s''' /ˈkraɪsiːz/; divisive - divisor; exhibition /{{e}}ksɪˈbɪʃən/ - exhibit /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/; | *abusive - abuser; a'''ss'''ess - po'''ss'''ess; abyss - abysmal; crisi'''s''' /ˈkraɪsɪs/ - crise'''s''' /ˈkraɪsiːz/; divisive - divisor; exhibition /{{e}}ksɪˈbɪʃən/ - exhibit /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/; it’s - he’s, she’s; louse - lousy; | ||
;These words don’t rhyme | ;These words don’t rhyme | ||
*goose - choose; geese - cheese; promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ - compromise /ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/; Arkan'''s'''as /ɑrːkənsɔː/ - Kan'''s'''as /ˈkænzəs/; lease - please; purpose - pose; | *goose - choose; geese - cheese; promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ - compromise /ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/; Arkan'''s'''as /ɑrːkənsɔː/ - Kan'''s'''as /ˈkænzəs/; lease - please; purpose - pose; | ||
| Line 102: | Line 102: | ||
===Other Romance languages=== | ===Other Romance languages=== | ||
In most Romance languages | In most Romance languages “s" between vowels is pronounced [z]. For example Portuguese ''básico'' is pronounced [ˈbaziku], French ''basique'' is [bazik] and Italian ''basico'' is [ˈbaziko]. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references/> | <references/>{{index}} | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
| Line 111: | Line 111: | ||
*[[Decoding the letter S]] | *[[Decoding the letter S]] | ||
*[[Decoding exercises: | *[[Decoding exercises: “ss"]] | ||
*[[Decoding exercises: "trans"]] | *[[Decoding exercises: "trans"]] | ||
*[[Homophones]] | *[[Homophones]] | ||
Latest revision as of 08:17, 21 January 2023
Voiced alveolar fricative Voiceless alveolar fricative The only difference betwen /s/ and /z/ is that /s/ is unvoiced and /z/ is voiced. See Voiced and unvoiced sounds.
The letter “s" is used to spell most words with /z/ and many words with /s/. Many students who are able to pronounce correctly both sounds may struggle with decoding writen words. For example, they may not be aware that goose doesn’t rhyme with choose.
More detail can be seen in Advanced decoding exercises: /s/ vs /z/.
/s/[edit | edit source]
- with initial /s/:
- with “c": ceiling - cent - cinema - city
- with “s": Template:Initial “s" as /s/
- with “sc": scene - scent - science
- with final /s/:
- with “ce": advice - choice - dance - nice - once - twice
- with “s": bus - gas - this - yes
- as morphemes “-s” for words ending in /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/, and /θ/:
- plurals: chiefs - ducks - cups - students - months
- third person singular: laughs - thinks - helps - gets
- possessives: staff’s - Mike’s - troop’s - Egypt’s - Edith’s
- with “se": dense - goose - house - loose - mouse - promise - release - tense
- with “ss": boss - class - kiss - mass - miss
- in mid-position:
- with “c": cancel - concern - decide - receive - recent - society
- with “s": analysis - awesome - basic - fantasy - nuisance
- with “ss": assign - assume - lesson - missing - necessary - possible
- homophones: C - sea - see; cell - sell; cent - scent - sent; cite - site - sight; scene - seen;
/z/[edit | edit source]
- with initial /z/: zapping - zebra - zoo;
- with final /z/:
- with “s": as - does - has - his - is - was
- morphemes “-s”
- plurals: bugs - churches - dens - keys - phones - shoes - toys
- third person singular: comes - drives - gives - knows - tells
- possessives: Alice’s - Bob’s - Carol’s - Dave’s - Ethiopia’s - Finland’s - Germany’s
- with “se": advise - browse - cheese - choose - lose - please - these - use - wise
- with "zz": buzz - jazz
- with "ze": breeze - freeze - sneeze
- in mid-position:
- with “s": busy - cousin - desert - easy - houses - music - poison - present - president - prison - reason - visit
- with “ss": dessert - scissors
- with "z": crazy - lazy - razor
- with "zz": dizzy
- homophones: browse - brows; nose - knows; size - sighs
Minimal pairs[edit | edit source]
At the beginning of the word[edit | edit source]
- sue - zoo;
In mid position[edit | edit source]
- lacy - lazy; precedent - president; racer - razor;
At the end of the word[edit | edit source]
- advice - advise; bus - buzz; face - phase; hiss - his; grace - graze; loose - lose; price - prize; race - raise; rice - rise;
- second word is plural: ace - A’s; arse - R’s; base - bays; case - K’s; cease - seas, C’s; decrease - decrees; dense - dens; dose - doughs; else - L’s; force - fours; ice - eyes, I’s; Joyce - joys; juice - Jews; lice - lies; niece - knees; once - ones; peace, piece - peas, P’s; race - rays; since - sins; spice - spies; tense - tens; trace - trays; versus - verses;
- second word is third person singular: dice - dies; false - falls; gross - grows; lice - lies; pace - pays; place - plays; sacrifice - sacrifies; scarce - scares;
- Only in BrE: brass - bras
- Only in AmE: loss - laws
Heteronyms[edit | edit source]
- Noun is pronounced with /s/, verb is pronouced with /z/: abuse - excuse - house - use
- close (adj.) - close (v.)
See also next section.
Devoicing[edit | edit source]
When two words are often pronounced together one of their consonants may influence the other. For example voiced /z/ and unvoiced /t/ become /s t/ where /z/ is devoiced.
- The verb suppose normally is /səˈpəʊz/ and its past tense normally is /səˈpəʊzd/. However suppose to and supposed to often are devoiced as /səˈpəʊs tə/ and /səˈpəʊst tə/.[1]
- Has to can be pronounced /hæs tə/.[2]
- Care should be taken to distinguish between “used to” and the past tense of the verb "to use": I used to /juːst tə/ use /juːz/ a laptop - He used /juːzd/ his laptop. - He didn’t use /juːz/ his new shoes - He used to /juːst tə/ miss the last bus. - I used to /juːst tə/ go there to dance.
- The word newspaper would normally be pronounced like news and paper /ˈnjuːzpeɪpər/ or /ˈnuːzpeɪpər/. Due to devoicing it can also be pronounced /ˈnjuːspeɪpər/ or /ˈnuːspeɪpər/.
Some curious contrasts[edit | edit source]
The first word is pronounced with /s/ and the second with /z/.
- abusive - abuser; assess - possess; abyss - abysmal; crisis /ˈkraɪsɪs/ - crises /ˈkraɪsiːz/; divisive - divisor; exhibition /eksɪˈbɪʃən/ - exhibit /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/; it’s - he’s, she’s; louse - lousy;
- These words don’t rhyme
- goose - choose; geese - cheese; promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ - compromise /ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/; Arkansas /ɑrːkənsɔː/ - Kansas /ˈkænzəs/; lease - please; purpose - pose;
Variant pronunciations[edit | edit source]
/s/ or /z/
- opposite - transaction
- blouse - erase
Anticipated pronunciation difficulties depending on L1[edit | edit source]
Spanish[edit | edit source]
Most Spanish speakers cannot pronounce the /z/ sound. They won’t even hear the difference between /s/ and /z/. See IPA phoneme /z/#Spanish L1.
Other Romance languages[edit | edit source]
In most Romance languages “s" between vowels is pronounced [z]. For example Portuguese básico is pronounced [ˈbaziku], French basique is [bazik] and Italian basico is [ˈbaziko].
