2-4 PRONUNCIATION OF FINAL –S: /Z/ AND /S/

 

CHAPTER 2

Expressing Present Time (Part 1)

 

2-4 PRONUNCIATION OF FINAL –S: /Z/ AND /S/

 

VOICED                   VOICELESS	Some sounds are “voiced”. You use your voice box to make voiced sounds. For example, the sound /b/ comes from your voice box. The final sounds in (a) are voiced.
(a) /b/   rub                   (b) /p/   sleep      /d/   ride                        /t/   write      /v/   drive                      /f/   laugh
	Some sounds are “voiceless”. You don’t use your voice box. You push air through your teeth and lips. For example, the sound /p/ comes from air through your lips. The final sounds in (b) are voiceless.
(a) rubs      = rub/z/             (b) sleeps    = sleep/s/      rides      = ride/z/                writes    = write/s/      drives    = drive/z/              laughs   = laugh/s/	Final –s is pronounced /z/ after voiced sounds, as in (c). Final –s is pronounced /s/ after voiceless sounds, as in (d).

 

 

Exercise:

a.       The final sounds of the VERBS in these sentences are “voiced”. Final –s is pronounced /z/. Read the sentences aloud.

1.      Cindy   rides   the bus to school.

           ride/z/

2.      Jack usually   drives   his car to school.

                    drive/z/

3.      Rain   falls  .

        fall/z/

4.      Sally often   dreams   about her boyfriend.

                  dream/z/

5.      Sometimes Jim   runs   to class.

                        run/z/

 

b.      Find the VERB in each sentence. Pronounce it. Then read the sentence aloud.

1.      The teacher often stands in the front of the room.

2.      George lives in the dormitory.

3.      Jean rarely smiles.

4.      Sam always comes to class on time.

5.      It rains a lot in Seattle.

 

Exercise:

a.       The final sounds of the VERBS in these sentences are “voiceless”. Final –s is pronounced /s/. Read the sentences aloud.

1.      Mike   sleeps   for eight hours every night.

          sleep/s/

2.      Our teacher always   helps   us.

                               help/s/

3.      Jack   writes   a letter to his girlfriend every day.

         write/s/

4.      Sara never   laughs   .

                  laugh/s/

5.      Sue usually   drinks   a cup of coffee in the morning.

                   drink/s/

 

b.      Find the VERB in each sentence. Pronounce it. Then read the sentence aloud.

1.      My child often claps her hands.

2.      Olga always bites her pencil in class.

3.      Maria usually gets up at seven-thirty.

4.      Yoko asks a lot of questions in class.

5.      Ahmed always talks in class.