Quote Originally Posted by iCake
Never ever heard it pronounced with soft ц. In fact, I can't even imagine a soft ц.
Quote Originally Posted by Hoax
"Ц" is always hard, it can't be soft, even in the word "цирк" it is hard.
Quote Originally Posted by Marcus
Так говорит большинство носителей русского языка, но, как и другие изменения в языке, этот факт не заметен для носителей.
Мягкое ц отвердело в 17 в, но сейчас оно возрождается из мягкого т.
Any proof that your words are true? As I said I've never ever heard a soft ц in my life. And don't tell me that is because none pronounces soft ц in my area. I served in the army and there were people from almost every part of our country, yet I've never heard them uttering a soft ц. And if you think I can't distinguish between any kind of т and any kind of ц, then guess again.