English Pronunciation for Icelanders
English Pronunciation for Icelanders
English Pronunciation for Icelanders
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26<br />
First, we’ll look at the difference between s and z. <strong>English</strong><br />
spelling sometimes indicates which sound is to be used, but more<br />
often it gives no indication at all. For instance phase is<br />
pronounced feiz, while base is pronounced beis. (Note the<br />
difference in vowel length; base has a shorter vowel in front of<br />
the <strong>for</strong>tis s.)<br />
The written letters c and z are usually pronounced s and z:<br />
centre and grace are 1sent0, greis, while zero and graze are<br />
1zi0r0u and greiz. Also, the endings -s, -es, -’s and -s’ are<br />
pronounced according to simple rules, discussed below.<br />
First we will look at s and z. The following exercise helps<br />
you to hear the difference between these two sounds. Fill in the<br />
missing phonemes, s or z.<br />
Tip: you can often hear the difference between final s and z by<br />
listening to the length of the vowel: rice rais has a shortened<br />
(clipped) diphthong, rise raiz has a normal long one.<br />
2 10<br />
¦<br />
TRANSCRIPTION EXERCISE 15: s and z<br />
1 mæ± 11 kl0u± 21 lai± 31 pE± 41 prai±<br />
2 hæ± 12 kl0u± 22 lai± 32 pE± 42 prai±<br />
3 mi± 13 DU± 23 fei± 33 pei± 43 rai±<br />
4 i± 14 DU± 24 fei± 34 pei± 44 rai±<br />
5 wo± 15 wÆn± 25 lei± 35 sI± 45 plei±<br />
6 lo± 16 wÆn± 26 lei± 36 sI± 46 plei±<br />
7 æ± 17 ten± 27 hau± 37 nØi± 47 bei±<br />
8 æ± 18 ten± 28 hau± 38 vØi± 48 bei±<br />
9 fi0± 19 jU± 29 lU± 39 rei± 49 bƱ<br />
10 fi0± 20 jU± 30 lU± 40 rei± 50 bƱ<br />
and now in medial positions:<br />
¦<br />
TRANSCRIPTION EXERCISE 16: s and z<br />
1 DU±^ 3 prai±i~ 5 rei±0 7 mæ±iv<br />
2 TU±^ 4 hau±i~ 6 gei±0 8 hæ±0d