affricates one segment two recent query summary larry trask german affricates makes think fact unless mistaken perfectly easy hear difference one twosegment stopfricative sequences least cases polish contrast sort least initial position words spelled _ trzy _ _ czy _ differ former cluster second affricate also compare english way saying _ ts _ german way saying _ z _ polish yiddish etc audible difference english speakers rendition _ matzah _ _ matzoh _ example sounds quite different yiddish polish also suggestive found engl speakers jewish way affricate e onesegment ts perhaps yiddish borrowings two segment otherwise speakers rhyme _ matzah _ _ lots f _ whereas speakers finally think speakers onesegment ts hit ya twosegment hits ya although speakers asked refuse admit anything nonpalatalized nonaffricated pronunciation second case alexis mr