1 [the text had dots under many e, o z and zz which I cannot ...

43. S has two different sounds ; a sharp hissing sound, and a soft
one.
44. S, at the beginning of a word, and followed by a vowel, has a
hard sound, like the S in the English word spirit . Ex. "sito," site .
45. S, at the beginning of a word, and followed by one of the
consonants c, f, p, q, t, has a hard sound, like the s in the English
word spirit. Ex. " scanno," bench, " sforzo," effort, " spia," spy "
squadrone," squadron, " storpio," lame .
46. S, at the beginning of a word, and followed by one of the
consonants b, d, g, I, m, n, r, v, has a soft sound, like the s in the
English word rose. Ex. " sbaglio," mistake, " sdegno," disdain, "il
sgabello," stool, " sleale," disloyal, " smalto," enamel, " snello,"
nimble , "sregolato ," disorderly, " svelare ," to unveil .
47. S, between two vowels, has, as a rule , the soft sound of the s
in the English word rose. Ex. " sposo," bridegroom, " chiesa,"
church ; but this rule has numerous exceptions .
48. Throughout this grammar a dot is placed under the s, thus s,
when it has the soft sound of the s in the English word rose.
49. When the s is doubled it always has a hard, hissing sound. Ex.
" rarissimo ," very rare .
PRONUNCIATION OF THE LETTERS Z AND ZZ.
50. Z has two sounds ; one sharp, like that of the ts in the English
word wits. Ex. " zampa," paw, " zio," uncle , " amicizia," friendship, "
prudenza," prudence; the other sound like that of the letter z in
the English word zeal. Ex. "zelo," zeal, "garzone ," youth, waiter .
51. 1 Notice that the letter q, in Italian , is always followed by .u
ON PRONUNCIATION AND SPELLING . 5
52. ZZ have two different sounds ; one like that of the ts in the
English word wits. Ex. " piazza," square , " bellezza," beauty, "
prezzo," price , " nozze ," wedding, " mezzo," over-ripe; the other
sound like that of the zz in the English word muzzle . Ex. "
dozzina," dozen, " orizzonte ," horizon, " gazza," magpie, " gazzetta,"
gazette , " mezzo," 1 middle, means , half.
53. Throughout this grammar a dot is placed under the 2, thus z,
when it has the soft sound of the z in the English word zeal; and
dots are placed under the two zz, thus zz, when they have the soft
sound of the zz in the English word muzzle .
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