Sibilant voicing in American English

[Paul B. Gallagher]

Robert Orr wrote:

> I first heard "equation " in 1968, from a maths teacher
> I remember my Mum being horrified.

I tried to be very clear that I was speaking of American English. I 
deduce from your use of the forms "maths" and "Mum," as well as your 
preference for a voiceless sibilant in "equation,: that you must be British.

FWIW, I have never in my life heard "equation" with anything but a 
voiced sibilant, and the same went for "Asia" until very recently. I 
remember being astonished the first time I heard a Brit say "Asia" with 
/ʃ/; it sounded completely foreign and more than a little ridiculous 
("maths" still does). But dialect differences can be that way; don't 
take it personally.

> The same year I also heard one speaker consistently refer to the present 
> month with a voiced sibilant.

I've never heard that, cross my fingers.

-- 
War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left.
--
Paul B. Gallagher
pbg translations, inc.
"Russian Translations That Read Like Originals"
http://pbg-translations.com

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