The S Sound Phonics
Phonics for the S sound
The pronunciation of the consonant s in English can vary based on its position within a word, its neighbouring sounds, and the specific accent or dialect.
Here are some general rules and guidelines for pronouncing the s sound:
Initial Position:
When s appears at the beginning of a word, it is typically pronounced as an unvoiced /s/ sound.
This is the hissing sound often associated with the letter s.
Example: sun, snake, snow
Medial Position:
When s appears in the middle of a word, its pronunciation remains generally consistent.
It is usually pronounced as an unvoiced /s/ sound.
Example: cost, basket, must
Final Position:
When s appears at the end of a word, its pronunciation can vary.
In some cases, it is pronounced as an unvoiced /is/ sound, while in other cases, it might sound
like /z/ or /z/ (as in iz):
/s/ sound: bus, cats, pots
/z/ sound: dogs, beds (often pronounced with a /z/ sound in casual speech)
/iz/ sound: buses, wishes (when the base word ends in a sibilant sound,
like /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /tʃ/, or /dʒ/)
Plural and Possessive s:
When adding the plural -s or the possessive ‘s to a word, the pronunciation can again vary based on whether the base word ends in a sibilant sound or another consonant sound.
/s/ sound: cats, dots, books
/z/ sound: bears, toys, friends
/iz/ sound: buses’, wishes’
Adjacent Vowels:
When s appears between two vowels, it might take on a z sound due to the voicing effect of the neighbouring vowels.
Example: roses (/ˈroʊzɪz/), causes (/ˈkɔːzɪz/)
Assimilation and Liaison:
In connected speech, the pronunciation of s can change due to assimilation and liaison.
For instance, s can become voiced before a voiced consonant (e.g., is this pronounced as /ɪz ðɪs/) or form a liaison with a following word beginning with a vowel (e.g., cats and dogs pronounced as /kæts ən dɒɡz/).
Here are some pronunciation exercises to help you practice the s sound in different positions within words and sentences:
Minimal Pairs:
Practice distinguishing between words that start with the s sound and those that start with different sounds, like sh or th.
sun / shun
sock / shock
snake / shake
Sentence Repetition:
Repeat sentences that start with words containing the s sound.
She sells seashells by the seashore.
Sammy saw seven slippery snakes.
Word Chain:
Create a chain of words where the last sound of one word is the initial sound of the next. This will help you practice the s sound in different positions.
bus – sun – snake – ice – house
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