Reme  +  58163 Mon, 29 Nov 04 01:51 PM Hi there! I need to clasify plural words (ending in -s) into three categories, depending on the way the final -s is pronounced: /s/ /z/ /iz/ I can make the difference (very clearly) when it is pronounced /iz/ as in "chances", but I´m completely unable to identify the difference between /s/ and /z/ so... is there any rule?? How can I differenciate them without hearing them? Thanks for your help in advance. Reme Reme Joined on Mon, Sep 13 2004 Spain New Member 51 Rester, c'est exister: mais voyager, c'est vivre. Difference Between, Pronunciation, Nouns, Plurals, Plural Words

	Teacher Eric  +  58227 Mon, 29 Nov 04 07:59 PM In American English, the sound of "s" depends on which sound comes before it. 1. If the noun ends in an unvoiced consonant sound: /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/, /th/-(thin), pronounce "s" as /s/. 2. When it ends in a voiced consonant sound, /b/, /d/, /g/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /ng/, /r/ or with a vowel sound, /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/, pronounce "s" as /z/. 3. If it ends with /s/, /z/, /sh/, /ch/-chair, /zh/-the second "g" in garage, /dz/-(j), pronounce "s" or "-es" as /iz/. In other words, if the noun ends with a sound other than the 5 unvoiced consonants, pronounce "s" with a /z/ (or with an /iz/ as the case may be). Teacher Eric Joined on Mon, Aug 16 2004 Full Member 171 Manila-based ESL/ESP teacher with a TESOL. Hoping to get a "Pass" in the DELTA. Vowels, Consonants, American English, Pronunciation, Nouns, Plurals

	Reme  +  58427 Tue, 30 Nov 04 01:36 PM Hi Teacher Eric, Thanks for your precious help! I think that´s what I was looking for... Just one thing: when you say in American English, do you mean that in RP English may be different? Reme American English, Pronunciation, Nouns, Plurals

	Teacher Eric  +  58482 Tue, 30 Nov 04 06:32 PM In the Philippines where English is widely spoken and understood and where I've been teaching for the past 7 years, most pronounce the "s" in plural nouns as /s/. My hands are quite full trying to do something about this. I'm not really sure if that's the case with the English spoken in other English-speaking countries like the UK, Australia, and South Africa. Perhaps someone else can lend a hand? Teacher Eric Pronunciation, Nouns, Plurals

	Mister Micawber  +  60968 Sun, 12 Dec 04 01:05 PM One cafe, two cafes One safe, two safes One giraffe, two giraffes One gaffe, two gaffes One knife, two knives One wife, two wives One fife, two fifes One life, two lives Are there any more you can think of? Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,507 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.' Pronunciation, Nouns, Plurals

	Teacher Eric  +  61038 Sun, 12 Dec 04 09:32 PM For nouns that end in f: leaf - leaves loaf - loaves elf - elves dwarf - dwarves (I could've sworn this was spelled "dwarfs" when Disney first came out with "Snow White and the seven...") reef - reefs oaf - oafs Teacher Eric Pronunciation, Nouns, Plurals

	King  +  61044 Sun, 12 Dec 04 09:54 PM Here are some rule breakers: cactus - cacti (kaktai) focus - foci (fokai) (That last one is a math term) I can't think of any others at the moment, but usually if it ends in "us", you get rid of that and make it "i" (pronounced like I as in me.) King Joined on Sat, Nov 13 2004 New Member 33 Whatever I just said is about AMERICAN English. Just warning you. Pronunciation, Nouns, Plurals

	Mister Micawber  +  61054 Sun, 12 Dec 04 10:23 PM What rule is being broken here, King? Mister Micawber Pronunciation, Nouns, Plurals