the -SION ending.

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This suffix is always unstressed. It begins with either the SH or the ZH sound followed

by the schwa-N sound. The N is a syllabic consonant here. That means it absorbs the

schwa. So, you don't need to try to make a separate schwa sound. We just have sh-nn,

shnn, or zh-nn, zhnn. It really should be very fast as an unstressed syllable. Shn,

zhn. SH and ZH have the same mouth position. The first sound, sh, is unvoiced. That means

there is just air, no sound from the vibration of the vocal cords. Sh. In the ZH sound, there

is a sound from the vocal cords, zh, zh.

Let's talk about the mouth position. You can see the lips are flaring out while the teeth

remain together, sh, zh. The middle part of the tongue lifts to the top of the mouth, but doesn't

touch. The tip of the tongue is pulled back, so it doesn't touch anything. Sh, zh. To move

into the N sound, simply lift the tip of the tongue up to the roof of the mouth so the

top, flat part of the tongue is touching. You can also relax the lips. Shn, zhn.

How do you know when it's pronounced with the unvoiced sound, shn, and when with the

voiced sound, zhn?

For example, decision, zhn, zhn. Occasion, zhn, zhn. Television, zhn, zhn.

Version, zhn, zhn. Excursion, zhn, zhn. Immersion, zhn, zhn.

Otherwise, it's a SH sound.

Discussion,shn, shn. Apprehension, shn, shn. Compulsion, shn, shn.

There are just a few exceptions I was able to find of words that are quite technical

and uncommon. Stick with these rules and you should be ok. As you work with this suffix,

try to make it really short compared to the stressed syllable. And remember, don't try

to make a vowel sound in this syllable. Zhn, version, shn, discussion.

That's it, and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.