How to pronounce words that end in –tion and –sion correctly
The MISSION is to see the VISION behind the EQUATION
I’m sure you can pronounce words like treasure /ˈtrɛʒə/, pleasure /ˈplɛʒə/, measure /’mɛʒə/, casual/ˈkaʒjʊəl/, usual //ˈjuːʒʊəl/, right? You’ll notice that there is a consonant /ʒ/ in all the second syllables.
There are many words that end in -sion in English, which contain the consonant /ʒ/—and not /ʃ/. Words such as vision, collision, fusion, aversion, conclusion, provision give us the consonant /ʒ/ in the second syllables.
Please take note of the exceptions (such as expression, mission, mansion, aggression, demonstration etc) above.
In my class today, after giving the correct pronunciation of the words in the picture and the exceptions to them. I asked my students if they noticed something about the words that contain the consonant /ʒ/. They tried, but didn’t get it.
Look at the picture very closely, after I’ve explained to them, Halima wrote the vowel /ɜː/, /u:/, /ɪ/, and /iː/ as pointers to them . You’ll notice a consistent pattern in words like conclUsion, inclUsion, exclUsion, provIsion, vIsion, adhEsion, and cohEsion. Although this is not a rule, but it hints at something interesting. Master them.
Note that preSSure /ˈprɛʃə/ has a different consonant sound from pleaSure /ˈplɛʒə/.
It’s been an interesting ride with you, and if you patiently and carefully followed this newsletter to this point, I must say that I’m soo proud of you. Till I write to you again, please drink enough water and continue minding your own business. Ciao!
Yours in English,
Francis