15. [dʒ]
/dʒ/ as in JAM /dʒæm/, MAGIC
/ˈmædʒɪk/, and AGE /eɪdʒ/
PRONOUNCING /dʒ/
TONGUE TIP: is firmly pressed against gum ridge behind upper front teeth.
AIRSTREAM: is stopped (as for /d/) and then released (as for /ʒ/).
VOCAL CORDS: are vibrating.
The sound /dʒ/ exists in most dialects of Spanish when the letters y or ll begin the first word in a sentence. The use of /dʒ/ is particularly evident in the Spanish of Chile, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and parts of Cuba and Bolivia.
SPANISH KEY WORDS WITH /dʒ/
Spanish words frequently have this sound when y or ll begin the first word in a sentence.
KEY WORDS: Yo llamo
POSSIBLE PRONUNCIATION PROBLEMS FOR THE SPANISH SPEAKER
Confusing English spelling patterns and similarities between /dʒ/ and other sounds cause your pronunciation problems with /dʒ/.
EXAMPLES:
If you substitute /y/ for /dʒ/: Jello /ˈdʒɛloʊ/ will sound like yellow /ˈyɛloʊ/.
If you substitute /h/ for /dʒ/: jam /dʒæm/ will sound like ham /hæm/.
If you substitute /ʒ/ for /dʒ/: large /lɑrdʒ/ will sound like /lɑrʒ/.
Just remember to start /dʒ/ with your tongue in the same place as for the sound /d/. Be sure your tongue is pressed against your upper gum ridge AND that your vocal cords are vibrating when you say /dʒ/. JUST keep practicing! It will be a JOY to say /dʒ/!
EXERCISE A
The following words should be pronounced with /dʒ/. Pronounce them carefully. Be sure to begin /dʒ/ just like the sound /d/.
/dʒ/ At the Beginning
/dʒ/ In the Middle
/dʒ/ At the End
jam /dʒæm/
joy /dʒɔɪ/
job /dʒɑb/
jar /dʒɑr/
gym /dʒɪm/
gem /dʒɛm/
jail /dʒeɪl/
jello /ˈdʒɛloʊ/
agent /ˈeɪdʒənt/
adjust /əˈdʒʌst/
magic /ˈmædʒɪk/
enjoy /ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/
angel /ˈeɪndʒəl/
injure /ˈɪndʒɚ/
danger
/ˈdeɪndʒɚ/
suggest /səɡˈdʒɛst/
age /eɪdʒ/
cage /keɪdʒ/
large /lɑrdʒ/
edge /ɛdʒ/
badge /bædʒ/
ridge /rɪdʒ/
village /ˈvɪlɪdʒ/
marriage
/ˈmærɪdʒ/
/dʒ/ Spelled:
“j”
“g”
“dg”
jaw /dʒɔ/
joke /dʒoʊk/
June /dʒun/
major /ˈmeɪdʒɚ/
subject
/ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/
giant /ˈdʒaɪənt/
gentle /ˈdʒɛntəl/
ranger /ˈreɪndʒɚ/
giraffe /dʒəˈræf/
college /ˈkɑlɪdʒ/
fudge /fʌdʒ/
badge /bædʒ/
budge /bʌdʒ/
wedge /wɛdʒ/
grudge /ɡrʌdʒ/
Less frequent spelling patterns for /dʒ/ consist of the letters "di" and "du".
EXAMPLES:
soldier
/ˈsoʊldʒɚ/
cordial
/ˈkɔrdʒəl/
graduate
/ˈɡrædʒuɪt
educate
/ˈɛdʒəˌkeɪt/
HINTS:
The letter «j» is usually pronounced /dʒ/:
EXAMPLES:
joke
/dʒoʊk/
june
/dʒun/
January
/ˈdʒænyuˌɛri/
just
/dʒʌst/
The letter «g» before silent «e» at the end of a word is usually pronounced /dʒ/.
EXAMPLES:
age
/eɪdʒ/
wedge /wɛdʒ/
village
/ˈvɪlɪdʒ/
college
/ˈkɑlɪdʒ/
EXERCISE B
The boldface words in the following phrases and sentences should be pronounced with /dʒ/. Pronounce them carefully.
Just a moment.
dʒʌst ə ˈmoʊmənt.
Enjoy yourself!
ɪnˈdʒɔɪ yɚˈsɛlf!
pledge of allegiance
plɛdʒ ʌv əˈlidʒəns
Fourth of July
fɔrθ ʌv dʒʊˈlaɪ
college education
ˈkɑlɪdʒ ˌɛdʒəˈkeɪʃən
Jack of all trades
dʒæk ʌv ɔl treɪdz
Jim is just joking.
ʤɪm ɪz dʒʌst ˈdʒoʊkɪŋ.
Jane enjoys jogging.
ʤeɪn ɪnˈdʒɔɪz ˈdʒɑɡɪŋ.
The major joined the legion.
ðə ˈmeɪdʒɚ dʒɔɪnd ðə ˈlidʒən.
I graduate from college in June.
aɪ ˈɡrædʒuˌeɪt frʌm ˈkɑlɪdʒ ɪn dʒun.
The passengers were injured in the jeep.
ðə ˈpæsəndʒɚz wɚ ˈɪndʒɚd ɪn ðə dʒip.
John mailed a large package.
dʒɑn meɪld ə lɑrdʒ ˈpækɪdʒ.