Name: Ngô Nguyễn Bình Xuyên

Student ID: 0023410537

Class: ĐHSANH23B

ENGLISH PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY

CHAPTER 8: THE SYLLABLE

A syllable is an important unit in the sound structure of English. It can be

described both phonetically, according to how sounds are produced, and
phonologically, according to how sounds are organized and distributed. A
syllable normally contains a central element, usually a vowel, and may also
contain consonants before or after that centre.
8.1 The Nature of the Syllable
8.1.1 Defining the Syllable
Perspective Description
A syllable has a centre, usually a
vowel, which involves little or no
obstruction to the airflow and is
Phonetic perspective comparatively loud. Sounds before or
after the centre are usually consonants,
which involve greater obstruction and
are less loud.
A syllable is described according to the
distribution and position of sounds. Its
Phonological perspective
major structural components are the
onset, centre/peak, and coda.
Basic structure of a syllable

8.1.2 Types of Syllables

Type Structure Description Examples
V Contains only one vowel
are /ɑː/, or /ɔː/, err
sound in isolation. Some
/ɜː/; /m/ for
Minimum syllable isolated consonant sounds
agreement; /ʃ/ for
may also function as
silence
complete syllables.
CV Contains a consonant
Syllable with an bar /bɑː/, key /kiː/,
before the vowel but no
onset more /mɔː/
consonant after it.
Syllable with no VC
Begins with a vowel and am /æm/, ought
onset but with a
ends with a consonant. /ɔːt/, ease /iːz/
coda
CVC Contains one or more
Syllable with both run /rʌn/, sat /sæt/,
consonants before and
onset and coda fill /fɪl/
after the vowel.

The isolated sounds /m/ and /ʃ/ may be treated as syllables because they are
complete sounds produced independently and surrounded by silence.

8.2 The Structure of the English Syllable

The English syllable may contain an onset, a peak, and a coda.
 Component Position Typical sound
Onset Before the peak Consonant or consonant cluster
Peak/Centre Central part Usually a vowel
Coda After the peak Consonant or consonant cluster

Example:
texts /teksts/
Onset Peak Coda
/t/ /e/ /ksts/

8.2.1 Syllable Onset

Onset type Description Example
The syllable begins with a
Zero onset are /ɑː/, eat /iːt/
vowel.
One-consonant The syllable begins with one
man /mæn/ → initial /m/
onset initial consonant.
The syllable begins with two or
Consonant cluster play /pleɪ/ → /p/ + /l/
more consonants.

8.2.2 Two-Consonant Onset Clusters

English has two main types of two-consonant onset clusters.
Type 1: /s/ + another consonant
In this structure, /s/ is the pre-initial consonant, and the second consonant is the
initial consonant.
Word IPA Pre-initial Initial
sting /stɪŋ/ /s/ /t/
sway /sweɪ/ /s/ /w/
slip /slɪp/ /s/ /l/

Type 2: Initial consonant + /l, r, w, j/

In this type, the first consonant is the initial consonant, and /l, r, w, j/ functions
as the post-initial consonant.
Word IPA Initial Post-initial
few /fjuː/ /f/ /j/
try /traɪ/ /t/ /r/
play /pleɪ/ /p/ /l/
quick /kwɪk/ /k/ /w/

8.2.3 Three-Consonant Onset Clusters

The typical structure of a three-consonant onset cluster is:
Pre-initial Initial Post-initial
/s/ /p, t, k/ /l, r, w/
Examples:
Word IPA Pre-initial Initial Post-initial
square /skweə/ /s/ /k/ /w/
split /splɪt/ /s/ /p/ /l/
stream /striːm/ /s/ /t/ /r/

/s/ + /p, t, k/ + /l, r, w/

8.2.4 Codas
The coda consists of one or more consonants following the peak of a syllable.
Coda type Description Example
Zero coda No consonant follows the vowel. go /ɡəʊ/
One consonant follows the vowel. Most cat /kæt/
One-consonant coda
consonants except /h, r, w, j/ may occur.

8.2.5 Two-Consonant Final Clusters

Two-consonant codas are divided into two types.
Type 1: Pre-final + Final
The pre-final consonants commonly include /m, n, ŋ, l, s/.
Word IPA Pre-final Final
bump /bʌmp/ /m/ /p/
bank /bæŋk/ /ŋ/ /k/
help /help/ /l/ /p/
Type 2: Final + Post-final
Common post-final consonants include /s, z, t, d, θ/.
Word IPA Final Post-final
bets /bets/ /t/ /s/
eighth /eɪtθ/ /t/ /θ/
bags /bæɡz/ /ɡ/ /z/

8.2.6 Three-Consonant Final Clusters

Type 1: Pre-final + Final + Post-final
Word IPA Pre-final Final Post-final
helped /helpt/ /l/ /p/ /t/
bonds /bɒndz/ /n/ /d/ /z/
Type 2: Final + Post-final 1 + Post-final 2
Word IPA Final Post-final 1 Post-final 2
lapsed /læpst/ /p/ /s/ /t/
next /nekst/ /k/ /s/ /t/

8.2.7 Four-Consonant Final Clusters

The typical structure is:
Pre-final + Final + Post-final 1 + Post-final 2
Word IPA Pre-final Final Post-final 1 Post-final 2
twelfths /twelfθs/ /l/ /f/ /θ/ /s/
prompts /prɒmpts/ /m/ /p/ /t/ /s/

8.2.8 Complex Final Clusters

Very complex final clusters are rare in English.
Word IPA Final cluster
sixths /sɪksθs/ /ksθs/
texts /teksts/ /ksts/
Analysis of “texts”
texts /teksts/
Component Sound
Onset /t/
Peak /e/
Final /k/
Post-final 1 /s/
Post-final 2 /t/
Post-final 3 /s/
Therefore, the coda of texts contains four consonants: /ksts/.
Analysis of “ask”
ask /æsk/
Component Sound
Onset Zero
Peak /æ/
Coda /sk/
8.3 Syllable Division
Syllable division is sometimes difficult because consonants occurring between
vowels may be assigned either to the preceding syllable or the following
syllable. The division must follow the phonotactic rules of English.

8.3.1 The Problem of Syllable Division

It is difficult to identify syllable boundaries, especially when consonants from
neighbouring words form clusters that cannot occur within one English syllable.
Example:
walked through /wɔːkt θruː/
The sequence /ktθr/ cannot form a single English syllable and must therefore be
divided across word and syllable boundaries.

8.3.2 The Word “Morning”

The word morning clearly contains two syllables, but different divisions may
appear possible:
/mɔː.nɪŋ/
/mɔːn.ɪŋ/
The preferred division is:
morning /mɔː.nɪŋ/
because /n/ can form the onset of the second syllable. This follows the Maximal
Onset Principle.

8.3.3 The Word “Extra”

Several divisions may appear possible:
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
However, /kstr/ is not a permitted English onset. Therefore, [Link] is
unacceptable.
The preferred division is:
extra /[Link]ə/
because /str/ is a possible English onset.

8.3.4 The Maximal Onset Principle

The Maximal Onset Principle states that consonants between syllables should be
assigned to the onset of the following syllable as far as the phonotactic rules of
the language allow.
Example:
extra /[Link]ə/
The cluster /str/ is assigned to the beginning of the second syllable because /str/
is a valid English onset.

8.3.5 Limitations of the Principle

The Maximal Onset Principle cannot be applied mechanically in every case.
Short vowels such as /ɪ, e, æ, ʌ, ɒ, ʊ/ normally do not occur at the end of
stressed syllables. Therefore, a consonant may need to remain in the coda of the
preceding syllable.
Example:
better /ˈbet.ə/
not:
/ˈbe.tə/
The /t/ closes the first syllable and prevents /e/ from occurring in an open
stressed syllable.

8.3.6 Problematic Words

The word carry presents difficulties.
Possible divisions include:
kæ.ri
kær.i
The first leaves /æ/ at the end of an open syllable, while the second depends on
whether /r/ may occur syllable-finally. The preferred analysis may therefore
vary between rhotic and non-rhotic accents.

8.3.7 Ambisyllabic Consonants

An ambisyllabic consonant belongs partly to both the preceding and the
following syllable.
Examples:
/t/ in better
/r/ in carry
This concept is useful when a consonant cannot be assigned clearly to only the
coda or only the onset.

8.3.8 Sonority Theory

Sonority Theory explains syllable structure according to the relative loudness or
openness of speech sounds.
Some consonants are more sonorous than others. However, applying sonority
mechanically may produce analyses that conflict with native-speaker intuition.
Example:
In extra, /s/ is more sonorous than /k/ or /t/, but it is not normally treated as a
separate syllable peak.

8.3.9 Further Theoretical Views

Some phonologists have questioned whether the syllable is always an essential
unit of phonological analysis. Others have suggested that clusters such as /sp/,
/st/, and /sk/ may have special structural status.
Relevant discussions can be found in works by Fudge, Giegerich, and Katamba.

8.3.10 Application in Language Teaching

Understanding syllable structure can help learners pronounce difficult consonant
clusters more accurately.
Examples of clusters requiring focused practice include:
/spr/ in spring
/spl/ in split
/ŋkt/ in linked
Teaching activities may move from simpler to more complex structures:
Stage Example
Single consonant /p/
Two-consonant cluster /pl/
Three-consonant cluster /spl/
Complete word split /splɪt/
Key Terms
Term Meaning

Syllable : A unit of speech organized around a central peak.

Onset : The consonant or consonants before the peak.

Peak/Centre : The most prominent part of a syllable, usually a vowel.

Coda : The consonant or consonants after the peak.

Zero onset : A syllable beginning directly with a vowel.

Zero coda : A syllable ending directly after the vowel.

Consonant cluster : Two or more consonants occurring together.

A consonant occurring before the initial consonant in an

Pre-initial :
onset.

Post-initial : A consonant following the initial consonant in an onset.

A consonant occurring before the main final consonant in a

Pre-final :
coda.

Post-final : A consonant following the main final consonant in a coda.

Maximal Onset The principle of assigning as many intervocalic consonants

:
Principle as possible to the following syllable.
Ambisyllabic
: A consonant belonging to both adjacent syllables.
consonant
The rules governing permitted sound combinations in a
Phonotactics :
language.