ENGLISH PHONETICS ENGLISH PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY 3AND PHONOLOGY 3

ENGLISH SYLLABLES AND ENGLISH SYLLABLES AND WORD STRESSWORD STRESS

THE SYLLABLETHE SYLLABLE Roach(2000) defines the syllable as a basic unit of speech Roach(2000) defines the syllable as a basic unit of speech

which consists of a peak which has little or no obstruction to which consists of a peak which has little or no obstruction to airflow and which comparatively sounds loud.airflow and which comparatively sounds loud.

The peak or the centre of the syllable may have before and The peak or the centre of the syllable may have before and after it some form of obstruction to the airflow and/less loud after it some form of obstruction to the airflow and/less loud sound.sound.

The word bat is a monosyllable word. The word bat is a monosyllable word. The center/peak of the syllable is the vowel because it is the The center/peak of the syllable is the vowel because it is the

least/no obstruction and is the loudest segment in the syllable. least/no obstruction and is the loudest segment in the syllable. The [b] and [t] are consonants which surrounds the peak and The [b] and [t] are consonants which surrounds the peak and

are both plosives/stop sounds which are formed by obstructing are both plosives/stop sounds which are formed by obstructing the airflow.the airflow.

The consonant [b] that comes before the peak is known as the The consonant [b] that comes before the peak is known as the onset and the consonant [t] that comes after the peak is onset and the consonant [t] that comes after the peak is known as the coda.known as the coda.

Onset and coda may/maynot be present in a syllable-marginal Onset and coda may/maynot be present in a syllable-marginal elements. The peak must be present in all.elements. The peak must be present in all.

Syllable structures- Mono syllablesSyllable structures- Mono syllables- There are at least two ways of representing the syllable There are at least two ways of representing the syllable

structures:structures:tree diagramtree diagramform of a tableform of a table

- The syllable marked as small Greek sigma - The syllable marked as small Greek sigma σσ has two has two immediate constituents;immediate constituents;the the onsetonset (o), consonants that precedes the nuclear element (o), consonants that precedes the nuclear element (the vowel)(the vowel)the the rhymerhyme(r), subsumes the nuclear element as well as any (r), subsumes the nuclear element as well as any marginal elements(consonants) that might follow itmarginal elements(consonants) that might follow it

- The rhyme further branches into:The rhyme further branches into:peak(p)peak(p) as known as the nucleus(n), which is nuclear or the as known as the nucleus(n), which is nuclear or the most audible element in a syllablemost audible element in a syllablecoda(c)coda(c) which includes all consonants that follow the peak in which includes all consonants that follow the peak in a syllable.a syllable.

Types of English Mono syllable wordsTypes of English Mono syllable words- Mono syllable with only the PeakMono syllable with only the Peak

Roach(2003) calls these minimal syllablesRoach(2003) calls these minimal syllables are [are [:] , or [:] , or [:]:]- Mono syllable with Onset and PeakMono syllable with Onset and Peak

sea [si:] , car [ksea [si:] , car [k:] :] - Mono syllable with Peak and CodaMono syllable with Peak and Coda

it [it] , in [in]it [it] , in [in]- Mono syllable with Onset,Peak and Coda- Mono syllable with Onset,Peak and Coda

cat [kcat [kt], meet [mi:t]t], meet [mi:t]

Syllable structures- Complex Syllables and Multi Syllable structures- Complex Syllables and Multi syllablessyllables

- The English syllable maybe quite complex as there - The English syllable maybe quite complex as there may be a string of consonants in the onset and also may be a string of consonants in the onset and also in the coda as in the word straight [streit]in the coda as in the word straight [streit]

- Some words also consists of diphthongs such as Some words also consists of diphthongs such as take [teik]. Are there 2 peaks or 1 peak in such take [teik]. Are there 2 peaks or 1 peak in such words? In the case of the diphthong, there is still words? In the case of the diphthong, there is still only one peak however it is said to be made by 2 only one peak however it is said to be made by 2 vowels [e] and [i].vowels [e] and [i].

- English syllables can permit a cluster of up to 3 English syllables can permit a cluster of up to 3 consonants in the onset and 4 consonants in the consonants in the onset and 4 consonants in the codacoda

- Smell- [s] is the pre initial onset consonant and [m] Smell- [s] is the pre initial onset consonant and [m] is the initial onset consonant. SPORT, SCALEis the initial onset consonant. SPORT, SCALE

- Spray-[s] pre initial onset consonant, [p] initial Spray-[s] pre initial onset consonant, [p] initial onset consonant and [r] post initial onset consonant and [r] post initial consonant.consonant.

- Initial is used because the onset occupies the Initial is used because the onset occupies the initial or the beginning of a syllableinitial or the beginning of a syllable

- The coda too consists of consonant clustersThe coda too consists of consonant clusters- Sprint- [n] pre final coda, [t] final codaSprint- [n] pre final coda, [t] final coda- Banks- [n] pre final coda, [k] final coda, [s] Banks- [n] pre final coda, [k] final coda, [s]

post final codapost final coda

WORD STRESSWORD STRESS It is associated with giving more prominence to a It is associated with giving more prominence to a

particular syllable in a word with more than one particular syllable in a word with more than one syllable.syllable.

The stressed syllable is usually louder or longer The stressed syllable is usually louder or longer than other syllables in the word.than other syllables in the word.

One can indicate word stress by capitalising the One can indicate word stress by capitalising the stressed syllable e.g. inforMAtion- indicating stress stressed syllable e.g. inforMAtion- indicating stress on the second syllable.on the second syllable.

Some dictionaries use a stress mark or a diacratic Some dictionaries use a stress mark or a diacratic 2 before the syllable that is given the primary stress 2 before the syllable that is given the primary stress –infor2mation. We can represent a secondary –infor2mation. We can represent a secondary stress using a (“ )- “infor2 mationstress using a (“ )- “infor2 mation

STRESS RELATED TO WORD CLASSSTRESS RELATED TO WORD CLASS Generally the word stress in English words are predictable in Generally the word stress in English words are predictable in

the sense that there is a pattern to stress placement.the sense that there is a pattern to stress placement. The rules are related to parts of speech of the words (nouns, The rules are related to parts of speech of the words (nouns,

verbs, adjectives)verbs, adjectives) However there are exceptions to the rules.However there are exceptions to the rules. Stress in NounsStress in Nouns- Nouns of 2 syllables are stressed on the 1Nouns of 2 syllables are stressed on the 1stst- ‘- ‘mother, ‘booklet, mother, ‘booklet,

‘tower‘tower- In words with more than 2 syllables, the nature of the vowel of In words with more than 2 syllables, the nature of the vowel of

the peak of the various syllables must be considered.the peak of the various syllables must be considered.- The vowel that occupies the penultimate position (next to last) The vowel that occupies the penultimate position (next to last)

is strong, thus stressed is placed on that syllableis strong, thus stressed is placed on that syllable

po’tato, re’lation, ho’rizon, ca’mera, em’peror, com’pliment, po’tato, re’lation, ho’rizon, ca’mera, em’peror, com’pliment, a’partment, di’saster, ap’pendix, cus’tody, reincar’nationa’partment, di’saster, ap’pendix, cus’tody, reincar’nation

Stress in VerbsStress in Verbs- Verbs of two syllables are stressed on the stronger Verbs of two syllables are stressed on the stronger

vowel.vowel.- Open and enter the final syllable contains a [Open and enter the final syllable contains a [] which ] which

is a weak syllable, thus the stress is on the first is a weak syllable, thus the stress is on the first syllable e.g. syllable e.g. ‘enter, ‘open‘enter, ‘open..

- In words like apply, arrive and pronounce, the stress In words like apply, arrive and pronounce, the stress falls on the final strong syllable falls on the final strong syllable ap’ply, ar’rive, ap’ply, ar’rive, pro’nouncepro’nounce

- In verbs with more that 2 syllables, in general the In verbs with more that 2 syllables, in general the strong initial syllable may receive the primary stress strong initial syllable may receive the primary stress e.g. ‘e.g. ‘exercise, ‘exacerbateexercise, ‘exacerbate

- However, if the final syllable is weak, the stress may However, if the final syllable is weak, the stress may be placed on the penultimate (before the final) or the be placed on the penultimate (before the final) or the antepenultimate (2 syllables before the final syllable)antepenultimate (2 syllables before the final syllable)in’terrogate, in’terpret, ‘calibrate, ‘complimentin’terrogate, in’terpret, ‘calibrate, ‘compliment

Stress in AdjectivesStress in Adjectives- In case of adjectives, the suffixes must be In case of adjectives, the suffixes must be

considered. considered. - If there is a suffix, -al, -ar, -ant/ent, -ous, -ine, the If there is a suffix, -al, -ar, -ant/ent, -ous, -ine, the

noun rule applies.noun rule applies.- This means that the stress falls on the first syllable of This means that the stress falls on the first syllable of

the 2 syllable adjectives e.g. the 2 syllable adjectives e.g. ‘fatal, ‘stellar, ‘cogent, ‘fatal, ‘stellar, ‘cogent, ‘dormant, ‘nervous‘dormant, ‘nervous

- In adjectives with more than 2 syllables, the stress is In adjectives with more than 2 syllables, the stress is placed on the stronger penultimate syllable; placed on the stronger penultimate syllable; acci’dental, pe’ripheral, sui’cidalacci’dental, pe’ripheral, sui’cidal

- However some adjectives are stressed like verbs in However some adjectives are stressed like verbs in which the stress falls on the final syllable especially which the stress falls on the final syllable especially when the final syllable contains a strong vowel: when the final syllable contains a strong vowel: ob’scene, pro’found, cor’rect.ob’scene, pro’found, cor’rect.

Stress in English Compound NounsStress in English Compound Nouns- In English compound nouns the primary - In English compound nouns the primary

stress is given to the first part of the stress is given to the first part of the compound noun.compound noun.

- ‘‘blackboard, ‘toothbrush, ‘notebook, blackboard, ‘toothbrush, ‘notebook, ‘keyboard‘keyboard

- In more complex noun + noun compound In more complex noun + noun compound such as such as computer analyst, teacher’s union, computer analyst, teacher’s union, history professorhistory professor, the same stress rule , the same stress rule applies. The first syllable is normally given applies. The first syllable is normally given the primary stress.the primary stress.

Stress to Contrast English Nouns-VerbsStress to Contrast English Nouns-Verbs- Some verbs in English are both nouns and Some verbs in English are both nouns and

verbs such as research ( a systematic study or verbs such as research ( a systematic study or investigation) and to research (to conduct such investigation) and to research (to conduct such a study)-homographs.a study)-homographs.

- The only difference is the word stress.The only difference is the word stress.- For the nouns the primary stress falls on the 1For the nouns the primary stress falls on the 1stst

syllable and for the verbs it falls on the 2syllable and for the verbs it falls on the 2ndnd syllablesyllable

- In some cases, the vowel quality between the In some cases, the vowel quality between the noun and verb changes.noun and verb changes.

Stress in English Phrasal VerbsStress in English Phrasal Verbs-The stress of ten falls on the 1-The stress of ten falls on the 1stst syllable for the noun syllable for the noun

and on the 2and on the 2ndnd syllable for the phrasal verb. syllable for the phrasal verb.

NounNoun VerbVerb‘‘promise [‘prpromise [‘prmis]mis] To pro’mise [prTo pro’mise [pr:’mis]:’mis]‘‘permit [‘ppermit [‘p:mit]:mit] To per’mit [pTo per’mit [p’mit]’mit]‘‘present [‘prezpresent [‘prez To pre’sent [pri’zent]To pre’sent [pri’zent]‘‘record [‘rekrecord [‘rek:d]:d] To re’cord [ri’kTo re’cord [ri’k:d]:d]‘‘refuse [‘refju:s]refuse [‘refju:s] To re’fuse [ri’fju:s]To re’fuse [ri’fju:s]

NounsNouns Phrasal VerbPhrasal VerbA ‘selloutA ‘sellout To sell ‘outTo sell ‘out

A ‘printoutA ‘printout To print’outTo print’out

A ‘takeoverA ‘takeover To take’overTo take’over

A ‘letdownA ‘letdown To let’downTo let’down