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Lecture 4 - Syllables

The document defines syllables and describes the structure of English syllables. It states that a syllable minimally contains a vowel sound at its center and may optionally contain consonant sounds before and/or after. The key parts of a syllable are identified as the onset, center, and coda. Strong and weak syllables are also defined, with strong syllables being stressed and containing certain vowel sounds, while weak syllables are unstressed and usually contain a schwa sound. Common spelling patterns associated with different vowel and consonant sounds in weak and strong syllables are also outlined.

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378 views

Lecture 4 - Syllables

The document defines syllables and describes the structure of English syllables. It states that a syllable minimally contains a vowel sound at its center and may optionally contain consonant sounds before and/or after. The key parts of a syllable are identified as the onset, center, and coda. Strong and weak syllables are also defined, with strong syllables being stressed and containing certain vowel sounds, while weak syllables are unstressed and usually contain a schwa sound. Common spelling patterns associated with different vowel and consonant sounds in weak and strong syllables are also outlined.

Uploaded by

diemthanhvu
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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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 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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