Lecture Syllables • Definition • The nature of syllables • The structure of English syllables • Strong and weak syllables 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  At  Cat  • A syllable can be part of a word or it can coincide with a word 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  • Some syllables may have no onset but have a coda (termination) e.g on // • Some syllabes have both an onset and a termination e.g meat // 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 Initial consonant clusters Initial two-consonant clusters • Pre-initial /s/ + initial consonant e.g slight • smoke Initial + post-initial /j, w, l, r/ e.g queue twin try Initial three-consonant cluster • Pre-initial /s/ + initial /p, k, t/ + post-initial /l, r, w, j/ e.g scream squid stew string 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 next tests texts Final consonant clusters Final two Consonant cluster Final three Consonant cluster Final four Consonant cluster Final two consonant clusters Pre-final /m, n, N, l, s/ + final Examples: bond pump bank dealt desk think Final + post-final /s, z, t, d, / Examples: cats bags looked begged eighth kissed Final three consonant clusters Pre-final + final + post-final Examples: helped banks bonds twelfth Final + post-final + post-final Examples: fifths next lapsed 10 Final four consonant clusters Pre-final + final + post-final + post-final twelfths prompts Final + post-final + post-final + post-final sixths texts 11 Syllable division extra • e.kstr@ • ek.str@ • eks.tr@ • ekst.r@ ? • ekstr.@ 12 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 consonants • No word ends with more than consonants 13 Therefore: extra • e.kstr@ • ek.str@ • eks.tr@ • ekst.r@ • ekstr.@ 14 Strong and weak syllables 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 advise alter Weak syllables: are unstressed They are syllables that can have only four types of centre a The vowel /@/: worker b A close front unrounded vowel in the general area of /i:/ and / I /: / i /: money family c A close back rounded vowel in the general area of /u:/ and / U /: /u/: arduous d A syllabic consonant: banana bottle garden 15 The /@/ vowel (schwa) In quality: • Mid (half-way between close and open) • Central (half-way between front and back) 16 Common Spellings Weak form Strong Form ‘a’ attend character ‘ar’ particular march ‘ate’ intimate mate ‘o’ carrot potato ‘or’ forget mortgage 17 Common Spellings Weak form Strong form ‘e’ violet settlement ‘u’ autumn butter ‘er’ perhaps merge ‘ough’ thorough ‘ou’ callous though could 18 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 19 Close back vowel • Phonetic symbol: /u/ • Common spellings:  Unstressed words: you , to , who  Before another vowel within a word: influenza 20 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: //, //, //, // 21 /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 letters followed by ‘al’ or ‘el’ panel , petal , parcel 22 /n/ Common spellings • After alveolar plosives t, d threaten , student • After labiodental fricative f, v often , seven 23 /m/ // Only occur as a result of processes such as assimilation and elision happen thicken 24 [...]... Therefore: extra • e.kstr@ • ek.str@ • eks.tr@ • ekst.r@ • ekstr.@ 14 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 advise alter 2 Weak syllables: are unstressed They are syllables that can have only four types of centre a The vowel /@/: worker... (schwa) In quality: • Mid (half-way between close and open) • Central (half-way between front and back) 16 Common Spellings Weak form Strong Form ‘a’ attend character ‘ar’ particular march ‘ate’ intimate mate ‘o’ carrot potato ‘or’ forget mortgage 17 Common Spellings Weak form Strong form ‘e’ violet settlement ‘u’ autumn butter ‘er’ perhaps merge ‘ough’ thorough ‘ou’ callous though could 18 Close front vowel