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Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2003 22:35:36 -0500 (EST)
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From: "Corinne Moran" <cmoranmv@gis.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9729] Re: voiced or unvoiced S, pronunciation of sword.
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Hello,
I am a teacher of English as a Second Language and have been a Speech
Teacher. The 'w' in sword is silent in American English, just as the 'b' in
doubt is silent. There are others. You simply say the word as if the letter
were not there.
As far as I am concerned, correct pronunciation would have the 's' in
the words you mentioned pronounced as a 'z' sound. I know it is harder to
pronounce it that way, and we tend to take the easy way. When I teach, I
teach the correct way. I know however, there are many people who do not
follow that rule. Certainly, professional narrators on tapes should model
correct pronunciation. Personally, I hate to see what is happening to our
pronunciation. I may be in the minority, however.
Corinne
----------
>From: çÇã¥Å@î¸íˆéq <applepie@minos.ocn.ne.jp>
>To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
>Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9728] voiced or unvoiced S, pronunciation of sword.
>Date: Wed, Dec 17, 2003, 7:37 PM
>
> Hello, list members,
>
> In the words "sword, swordsman" "w" isn't pronounced, or so it says in the
> dictionaries. The dictionaries give a special caution as to its
> pronunciation, saying "w" sound is not pronounced.
>
> One of the NHK English programs says there is a trend in which "w" is
> pronounced, especially in American English. How true is it? What is your
> observation? Is there any recent research on this?
>
> I have also observed and been hearing "dogs, please, trees" pronounced with
> the last "S" sounds unvoiced. I know sometimes it's kind of hard to say
> dogZ.
> DogS , unvoiced consonant is easier, but I hear more and more professional
> narrators on the tapes and CDs say treeS instead of treeZ.
>
> Is this another trend?
>
> Mitsuko
> Japan
>
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