Manohonor  +  52064 Tue, 26 Oct 04 04:29 AM 'S' sound before YOU sounds like ' sh ' and like 'zh', right? My question is does it sound like that only before YOU or before all such words (YEAR, YOUNG etc)? Does this feature concern American English only or, like CH instead of T before such words, it's used by British speakers too? Is it necessary to pronounce words that way. I mean BLESS YOU ( bleSH you instead of bless you). And are the words like MESSIAH or ESPIONAGE (or only with double S?) pronounced like MESHIAH. Thanks in advance. Appreciate your time. Manohonor Joined on Mon, May 17 2004 Russian Federation Full Member 163 Do your best American English

	CalifJim  +  52068 Tue, 26 Oct 04 05:02 AM "glide absorption" again. Haven't we been down this road before? s + y = sh z + y = zh I miss you. = I mishoo. this year = thish year Has your friend arrived? = Hazher friend arrived? It is frequently heard, but absolutely not required. In "Messiah" and "espionage", glide absorption is forbidden! I can't answer for British English --- don't know. CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,445 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche British English

	MrPedantic  +  52244 Wed, 27 Oct 04 01:23 AM Hello MoH In British English, some people use 'glide absorption', and some people don't. It varies from region to region and social group to social group. In standard 'BBC' pronunciation, for instance, you would be unlikely to hear it. But it usually features prominently in a strong East London accent. Interestingly, in southern British English, there's an increasing tendency to avoid -SH sounds in a number of words where -SH was once perfectly acceptable, e.g. 'appreciate', 'negotiate', 'issue'. (Sometimes a person will say 'iss-yoo' for 'issue' in a business meeting, yet 'ishoo' among his friends.) This anti-SH tendency is especially noticeable among broadcasters. CH for T also occurs ('I'll getchoo later!'), but a glottal stop is often used instead. CH for T is limited to lower social groups, whereas the glottal stop is becoming universal. You find the British prime minister Tony Blair using the glottal stop in informal interviews, for instance, though he usually avoids it on 'official' occasions. This is probably an unconscious attempt to seem more 'chummy'. MrP MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris... British English, Accents, Interviews, Pronunciation, Glottals

	Manohonor  +  52348 Wed, 27 Oct 04 04:21 PM Thanks a lot CalifJIm, MrPedantic - I am really grateful for your help - only what is "glottal stop"? Manohonor Glottals

	MrPedantic  +  52391 Wed, 27 Oct 04 11:17 PM A 'glottal stop' is the noise you hear in the middle of 'uh-oh!'. It's made at the very back of the mouth, at the top of the throat. Some native English speakers use it instead of T in words such as 'later', 'water', etc. Let me know if you're still not sure what it means! MrP MrPedantic Glottals

	AshInVegas  +  52404 Thu, 28 Oct 04 12:57 AM I respectfully disagree (somewhat) with CalifJim. "misshoo" and "thish year" are pronunciations I heard quite a bit when I lived in rural Pennsylvania (and elsewhere in the Northeast), but that I don't hear anymore. This is something I've always considered colloquial--and incorrect (or at least undesirable). -AiV AshInVegas Joined on Thu, Oct 7 2004 New Member 05

	Manohonor  +  52494 Thu, 28 Oct 04 01:46 PM MrPedantic, I still can't understand... Maybe you'll try to explain again please I'd be very grateful. Manohonor

	nona the brit  +  52497 Thu, 28 Oct 04 01:56 PM It's a sharp puff of air at the top of the throat/back of the mouth. Less than a grunt, more than a breath. nona the brit Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004 England Veteran Member 11,713 The name says it all.