For [s], one hears [z] between vowels (especially if the second is stressed), or between a vowel and //m//, provided no # stands on either side of the sibilant.
s à z /V__{V/m}
[z] [s]
dismal dis#mount
plasma plastic
spasm spastic
lous+y louse
dis+ease dis#own
re+sign re#sign
re+serve re#serve
smile
re+servation
BrE has [z] before [l] as in Wesley, Chrysler, Moslem, Islam, and Oslo; NA has [s] here (cf. Wesley Clark of Calif). But grisly has [z] everywhere.
There is a substantial group of words where speakers in all countries differ over [s] or [z] for internuclear "s": greasy, Jerusalem, blouse, philosophical (not philosophy), resources, and endings –ose and –ese are most frequent. The same difference is heard in absurd and absorb. Contrast further BrE erase#r with [z] and NA erase#r with [s].
Diagnose, dose, and usage have NA and BE [s], also BE [z].
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