English Pronunciation Tip of the Day
Tip 41
Category:
Word endings
Author: JAM
<-age>
In single syllable words <-age> is of course pronounced /eIdZ/: cage page rage. This pronunciation also occurs if the ending is stressed in a polysyllabic word: assuage engage. However, if the ending is unstressed it is usually pronounced /IdZ/ or /@dZ/. Here are some examples:
| cottage | /"kQtIdZ/ |
| manage | /"m{nIdZ/ |
| shortage | /"SO:tIdZ/ |
| vicarage | /"vIk@rIdZ/ |
| village | /"vIlIdZ/ |
Notice also the pronunciation of carriage /"k{rIdZ/ and marriage /"m{rIdZ/ compared to foliage /"f@UliIdZ/ and verbiage /"v3:biIdZ/.
There are some polysyllabic words where the ending is unstressed and the pronunciation is /A:dZ/ or /A:Z/. The most common of these are: barrage camouflage fuselage sabotage.
Finally there is the word garage which can be pronounced in any of the following ways: /"g{rIdZ "g{r@dZ "g{rA:dZ "g{rA:Z g@"rA:dZ g@"rA:Z/. The last two are more common in US English.