Palatalization of the initial "s" in words starting with "str-"

Question

Sometimes I hear native speakers pronounce the s at the beginning of a word as [ʃ]. For example, straight as [ʃtreɪt], or struggle as [ʃtrʌɡl]. It sounds like German words.

Is it a certain English dialect, a specific accent, or just an idiolect?

Answer 1

Palatal vowels (i), semivowels (y), and liquids (r) often influence the sound of preceding consonants, a process called palatalization. This is most obvious with dental consonants like t and s, which typically become tch and sh. For example, train often sounds like tchrain.

Palatalization is consistent for some English forms, like the shun sound of the -tion suffix. It is weaker or inconsistent for others, like the tr- and str- consonant clusters. Native speakers generally don't notice the variation unless you exaggerate it – train and tchrain are allophones. However, the subtle palatalization of straight could easily sound like shchrait to a non-native speaker.

Answer 2

You're absolutely right, there is a subtle sh sound. I've just tried it myself and I can detect different positions of my mouth and tongue as I say str words, compared to words beginning simply with s (excluding sugar and sure of course) and other s and consonant clusters. I have no knowledge as to whether this is more marked in different regions, but I guess that as a non-native speaker you have tuned into this subtle variation whereas a native speaker would hardly notice any difference. The r sound is more of a vowel sound than a consonant in English and my mouth seems to anticipate this as it says the str.

Answer 3

I wonder whether the OP has heard Hiberno-English speakers introducing some light-hearted humour by mimicking a well-known verbal mannerism of the actor Sean Connery? Not uncommon in Scotland. Mr. Connery comes from Edinburgh, as do I, and I don't recognise this as typical of an Edinburgh accent.

Answer 4

I notice that most NYC Subway conductors do this, as in "14th Shtreet, 42nd Shtreet next." Outside the subway, I notice this pronunciation among many African-American men in NYC. I presume, perhaps erroneously, that this is an inner-city, macho-culture thing originating from a desire not to sound effeminate.