Which would you write?

[Molly]

Which would you write?

Zardoz' works are a joy to the eye. He is..."
Zardoz's works are a joy to the eye. He is..."

[Alan]

Hi,

I would choose 'Zardoz's' to indicate the pronunciation.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Molly]

What pronunciation would you give to "Jesus'/Jesus's words"?

[Jamie (K)]

In that case, we have a choice between the two. The name "Jesus" ends with an S sound, so we have the choice of saying [dʒizəs] or [dʒizəsəz]. The name Zardoz ends in a Z sound, so we don't have that choice and have to add 's and pronounce it as a syllable.

[Molly]

<The name Zardoz ends in a Z sound, so we don't have that choice and have to add 's and pronounce it as a syllable.>

In many names ending in "z", the ending is pronounced as an S sound. "Zardoz" can be pronounced with a final Z or S sound.

And how about "Achilles"? And "Dickens"?

[Jamie (K)]

Not in English. Your native language is probably one that devoices B, D, G, V, Z and other voiced consonants at the ends of words. In English, we never do this, so any name ending in Z has that Z sound, not an S sound.

[Molly]

Do you mean that you English speakers always pronounce foreign names in your own way?

And "James" ends in a Z sound even in English, doesn't it?

So, is it "James's" or James'"?

[Jamie (K)]

[Molly]

<Well, a person from your country would probably call someone named "James" [dʒems] or even [tʃɛmps], when his name is really [dʒeimz].>

No, we wouldn't. Once we learn the poronunciation of the name, we stick with it. Respect.

Which here and why?

for convenience's sake
for convenience' sake

[dʒeimz] has a Z ending, right? So why do you some of you write "James' car" and others "James's car".

<<The name Zardoz ends in a Z sound, so we don't have that choice and have to add 's and pronounce it as a syllable.>>