Lecture 4 - Syllables

8/14/2019 Lecture 4 - Syllables

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Lecture 4

Syllables Definition

The nature of syllables

The structure of English syllables

Strong and weak syllables


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Definition

Phonetically, a syllable is a unit which consists of a

vowel as the centre and/or consonant(s) before and

after it.e.g. Are //

No /n\/

At /t/

Cat /kt/

A syllable can be part of a word or it can coincide with aword.


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The nature of syllables

A minimum syllable is a single vowel in isolation

e.g. are // or // err //

Some syllables have an onset. That is they have more

than just silence preceding the centre of the syllable.

e.g. my /ma/

Some syllables may have no onset but have a coda

(termination).

e.g. on /n/

Some syllabes have both an onset and a termination.

e.g. meat /mit/


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Syllable

CentreOnset Coda

(Optional) (Optional)

Structure of English syllables


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Syllable onset

If the first syllable of the word begins with

A vowel Zero Onset

e.g. ease our

One consonant initial consonant

e.g. send church

Two or more consonants together an initial

consonant cluster.

e.g. clear spring


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Initial consonant clusters

1. Init ial two-consonant clusters

Pre-initial /s/ + initial consonant

e.g. slight smoke

Initial + post-initial /j, w, l, r/

e.g. queue twin try

2. Initial three-consonant cluster

Pre-initial /s/ + initial /p, k, t/ + post-initial /l, r, w, j/

e.g. scream stew

squid string


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Syllable coda (termination)

If a syllable ends with:

A vowel zero termination

e.g. no car

A consonant

final consonante.g. meal late

More than one consonant final consonant cluster

e.g. ask next

tests texts


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Final consonant clusters

Final two

Consonant

cluster

Final three

Consonant

cluster

Final four

Consonant

cluster


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Final two consonant clusters

1. Pre-final /m, n, N, l, s/ + final. Examples:

bond pump

bank dealt

desk think

2. Final + post-final /s, z, t, d, /. Examples:

cats bags

looked begged

eighth kissed


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Final three consonant clusters

1. Pre-final + final + post-final. Examples:

helped banks

bonds twelfth

2. Final + post-final 1 + post-final 2. Examples:

fifths

next

lapsed


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Final four consonant clusters

1. Pre-final + final + post-final 1 + post-final 2

twelfths

prompts

2. Final + post-final 1 + post-final 2 + post-final 3

sixths

texts


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extrae kstrek streks trekst r ekstr

Syllable division


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Syllable division

Maximum Onset Principle:

Consonants are assigned to the right-hand syllable

as far as possible within the restrictions governing

syllable onsets and codas.

Restrictions:

No word begins with more than 3 consonants.

No word ends with more than 4 consonants.


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Therefore:

extrae kstrek streks trekst r ekstr


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Strong and weak syllables

1. Strong syllables: Strong syllables are stressed. Theyare syllables that have as their centres one of the vowel

phonemes or possibly a triphthong, but not /@/.

Examples:contain advise alter

2. Weak syllables: are unstressed. They are syllables that

can have only four types of centre.a. The vowel /@/: worker banana

b. A close front unrounded vowel in the general area of /i:/

and / I /: / i /: money familyc. A close back rounded vowel in the general area of /u:/

and / U /: /u/: arduous do

d. A syllabic consonant: bottle garden


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The // vowel (schwa)

In quality:

Mid (half-way between close and open)

Central (half-way between front and back)


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Common Spellings

mortgageforgetor

potatocarroto

mateintimateate

marchparticularar

characterattenda

Strong FormWeak form


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Common Spellings

couldcallousou

thoughthoroughough

mergeperhapser

butterautumnu

settlementviolete

Strong formWeak form


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Close front vowel

Phonetic symbol: / i /

Common spellings:

Final -y or -ey : happy

Prefix re- pre- de- : react

Suffix -iate -ious : appreciate

Unstressed words : he , she , we

the preceding a vowel


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Close back vowel

Phonetic symbol: /u/

Common spellings:

Unstressed words: you , to , who

Before another vowel within a word: influenza


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Syllabic Consonants

Definition:

A syllabic consonant stands as the peak of

the syllable instead of a vowel. It is usual to

indicate that a consonant is syllabic by

means of a small vertical mark ( < )

Phonetic symbols: /n/, /l/, /m/, //


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/l/

Common spellings

Words ending with one or more consonant letters

followed by le with alveolar consonant preceding

cattle , wrestle

with non-alveolar consonant preceding

couple , struggle

Words ending with one or more consonant lettersfollowed by al or el

panel ,petal , parcel


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/n/Common spellings

After alveolar plosives t, d

threaten , student

After labiodental fricative f, v

often , seven


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/m/ //Only occur as a result of processes such as

assimilation and elision

happen

thicken

Lecture 4 - Syllables

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