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 a word.
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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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Structure of English syllables Syllable

Onset
(Optional)

Centre

Coda
(Optional)

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. Initial two-consonant clusters
Pre-initial /s/ + initial consonant e.g. slight Initial + post-initial /j, w, l, r/ e.g. queue twin try smoke

2. Initial three-consonant cluster

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

e.g. scream squid

stew string
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Syllable coda (termination)

If a syllable ends with:
A vowel zero termination
e.g. no car

A consonant final consonant e.g. meal late

More than one consonant final consonant cluster e.g. ask tests next texts
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Final consonant clusters

Final two Consonant cluster

Final three Consonant cluster

Final four Consonant cluster

Final two consonant clusters

1. Pre-final /m, n, N, l, s/ + final. Examples: bond bank desk cats looked eighth pump dealt think bags begged kissed
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2. Final + post-final /s, z, t, d, /. Examples:

Final three consonant clusters

1. Pre-final + final + post-final. Examples: helped bonds banks 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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Syllable division

extra
e.kstr@ ek.str@ eks.tr@ ekst.r@ ekstr.@
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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:

extra
e.kstr@ ek.str@ eks.tr@ ekst.r@ ekstr.@
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Strong and weak syllables

1. Strong syllables: Strong syllables are stressed. They are syllables that have as their centres one of the vowel phonemes or possibly a triphthong, but not /@/. Examples: contain 2. a. b. c. d. advise alter Weak syllables: are unstressed. They are syllables that can have only four types of centre. The vowel /@/: worker banana A close front unrounded vowel in the general area of /i:/ and / I /: / i /: money family A close back rounded vowel in the general area of /u:/ and / U /: /u/: arduous do 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
Weak form a ar attend particular Strong Form character march mate potato mortgage
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ate intimate o or carrot forget

Common Spellings
Weak form e u er violet autumn perhaps Strong form settlement butter merge though could
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ough thorough ou callous

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 the preceding a vowel
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, she

, we

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 couple , wrestle , struggle with non-alveolar consonant preceding Words ending with one or more consonant letters followed 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
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