The voiced [ʒ] standing alone between vowels is not common in English, being found only where s is followed by a front vowel, or by u which goes back to [juː]. Here the development is from [sj] to [zj] and then to [ʒ]. Examples are vision [viʒən], measure [meʒə]. The spelling z is found only in azure [æʒə] or [eiʒjə], sometimes [æʒjuə].
Observe the careless pronunciation of as usual as [æʒ juwʒuəl], praise ye the Lord as [preiʒ jij ðə lɔːd]. India rubber is generally pronounced [indʒə rʌbə].
On the other hand, the combination [dʒ] is quite common. This is written j (as in jet [dʒet]), g before e or i. (as in gem [dʒem], gin [dʒin], age [eidʒ]; observe also gaol [dʒeil]), and sometimes dg (as in edge [edʒ]). It is spelled ch in ostrich, sandwich, Greenwich, Harwich, Woolwich, and in spinach.
What is the value of ng in the following words:—hang, longing, lounging, language, engage, hunger, hinge, ungraceful?
30. The hissing sounds.—Distinguish clearly the voiceless as in seal and the voiced [z] as in zeal. Compare the manner of production of the hissing and the hushing sounds: utter [ʃ] and . (Why will these show the distinction more clearly than [ʒ] and [z]?) You will find that the breath is more widely diffused when you utter [ʃ]; in producing your tongue forms a narrow channel and the breath is thus directed against a point. See the diagram on p. [126].
The usual spelling of both voiceless and voiced [z] is s. Notice that
1. The s of inflections is [z] after a voiced sound: compare fills [filz], glances [glɑːnsiz], dogs [dɔgz], faces [feisiz], but hits [hits], cats [kæts].
2. The final s of some words of one syllable is [z]: as, has, is, his, was; but this, us.
3. Sometimes the verb has [z], the substantive or adjective :
| use [juwz] | use [juws] |
| diffuse [di´fjuwz] | diffuse [di´fjuws] |
| close [klouz] | close [klous] |
| lose [luwz] | loose [luws] |