2007-03-25 23:50:51 · 7 answers · asked by popcorn0421 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Actually, neither is exactly right.
"iz" and "ez" describe the sound of the vowel when it is ACCENTED (or 'stressed').
"iz" in "his"
"ez" in "says" or "fez"
But in the word "encourages" the accent is on the second syllable. The "-ges" ending is not stressed. The sound of the "e" ends up partially swallowed.. you don't open up the mouth as much as for the short i and e or "his" and "fez". That's why it may sometimes seem to sound like a short i, sometimes like a short e. (This is also affected by what sounds come before and after it in the word.)
There are actually MANY examples of this -- where short vowels that do not have the accent are "reduced". The main "reduced vowel" -- and actually the MOST commonly used vowel SOUND in English, is called "schwa". You can read more about it in the article linked below --- but note that ANY short vowel may end up pronounced this way.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwa#Schwa_as_a_neutral_vowel
2007-03-27 06:33:22 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not an "iz" more of an open "ez" sound is more like it. Drop your jaw a little more than the "iz" to get an "ez" sounds. The "e" sounding as in the word "bet" or "set"
2007-03-26 12:38:58 · answer #2 · answered by Sarah S 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes "iz" sound as in is , is right.
2007-03-26 06:54:46 · answer #3 · answered by just got curious 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
no iz iz wrong es iz right use es stead of iz ..iz is for biz not for encourages.....got iz? oops i mean es hmmm thats german.........it?
2007-03-26 07:00:48 · answer #4 · answered by foxy 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Sounds fine, either "iz" or "ez"....
2007-03-26 06:59:43 · answer #5 · answered by bluehog88 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
No ez sounds right.
2007-03-26 06:58:41 · answer #6 · answered by Student 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
yup...
2007-03-26 06:54:00 · answer #7 · answered by Harsh Peeush 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋