Syllable division
How many syllables?
• morning
• extra
• believe
• show
• examination
• university
• syllable
How to divide syllables?
morning (British) morning (American)
mɔ:nɪŋ mɔ:rnɪŋ
How to divide syllables?
Morning (British) Morning (American)
mɔ:nɪŋ mɔ:rnɪŋ
a) mɔ: nɪŋ b) mɔ: rnɪŋ
How to divide syllables?
Morning (British) Morning (American)
mɔ:nɪŋ mɔ:rnɪŋ
a) mɔ: nɪŋ b) mɔ: rnɪŋ
c) mɔ:r nɪŋ
How to divide syllables?
Morning (British) Morning (American)
mɔ:nɪŋ mɔ:rnɪŋ
a) mɔ: nɪŋ b) mɔ: rnɪŋ
c) mɔ:r nɪŋ
d) mɔ:n ɪŋ e) mɔ:rn ɪŋ
Maximal onsets principle
• When two syllables are to be divided, any
consonants between them should be attached
to the right-hand syllable, not the left-hand
syllable, as far as possible.
How to divide syllables?
Morning (British) Morning (American)
mɔ:nɪŋ mɔ:rnɪŋ
a) mɔ: nɪŋ b) mɔ: rnɪŋ
c) mɔ:r nɪŋ
d) mɔ:n ɪŋ e) mɔ:rn ɪŋ
• If we follow the maximal onset
principle, (b) would be the correct
answer.
• But, we have an impossible
consonant cluster (rn). Therefore, we
cannot choose (b)
• We have to move to the next best
possible answer which is (c)
Maximal onsets principle
• When two syllables are to be divided, any
consonants between them should be attached
to the right-hand syllable, not the left-hand
syllable, as far as possible.
How to divide syllables?
Morning (British) Morning (American)
mɔ:nɪŋ mɔ:rnɪŋ
a) mɔ: nɪŋ b) mɔ: rnɪŋ
c) mɔ:r nɪŋ
d) mɔ:n ɪŋ e) mɔ:rn ɪŋ
How to divide syllables?
extra
a) [Link]ə
b) [Link]ə
c) [Link]ə
d) ekst.rə
e) ekstr.ə
Maximal onsets principle
• When two syllables are to be divided, any
consonants between them should be attached
to the right-hand syllable, not the left-hand
syllable, as far as possible within syllable onset
and coda rules, as well as preventing syllable-
final ɪ, e, æ, ʌ, ɒ, and ʊ.
How to divide syllables?
extra
a) [Link]ə
b) [Link]ə
c) [Link]ə
d) ekst.rə
e) ekstr.ə
How to divide syllables?
extra
a) [Link]ə • If we follow the maximal onset
principle, (b) would be the correct
answer.
b) [Link]ə • But, actually (b) (c) and (d) are all
possible.
c) [Link]ə • (b) is the best division
d) ekst.rə
e) ekstr.ə
How to divide syllables?
better (British) better (American)
betə betər
How to divide syllables?
better (British) better (American)
betə betər
a) be.tə b) be.tər
c) bet.ə d) bet.ər
How to divide syllables?
better (British) better (American)
betə betər
a) be.tə b) be.tər
c) bet.ə d) bet.ər
Maximal onsets principle
• When two syllables are to be divided, any
consonants between them should be attached
to the right-hand syllable, not the left-hand
syllable, as far as possible within syllable onset
and coda rules, as well as preventing syllable-
final ɪ, e, æ, ʌ, ɒ, and ʊ.
• ɪ can be a syllable final if the next syllable starts with a consonant +
vowel.
• Except schwa
How to divide syllables?
carry (British) carry (American)
kæri keri
How to divide syllables?
carry (British) carry (American)
kæri keri
a) kæ.ri b) [Link]
c) kær.i d) ker.i
Practice: divide the following syllables
• writing
• paper
• onset
• evil
• divide
• practice
• vowel
• prospect
Practice: divide the following syllables
• writing • r aɪ t ɪ ŋ
• paper • p eɪ p ə r
• onset • ɒnset
• evil • i: v ə l
• divide • d ɪ v aɪ d
• practice • præktɪs
• vowel • v aʊ ə l v aʊ w ə l
• prospect • prɒspekt
Practice: divide the following syllables
• writing • r aɪ . t ɪ ŋ
• paper • p eɪ . p ə r
• onset • ɒ[Link]
• evil • i: . v ə l
• divide • d ɪ v . aɪ d
• practice • præk.tɪs
• vowel • v aʊ . ə l v aʊ . w ə l
• prospect • prɒ[Link]
Practice: divide the following syllables
• divide • d ɪ v . aɪ d X
• If we follow the maximal onset principle, d ɪ v . aɪ d
would be the correct answer.
• But, the vowel ɪ can act as a peak without a coda if it is
followed by a consonant + vowel.
• Therefore, we cannot say the right answer is d ɪ v . aɪ d
• The right answer is d ɪ . vaɪ d
Transcribe divide, picture and chicken
to see the difference
• divide • d ɪ . vaɪ d
/ɪ/ + consonant + vowel
/ɪ/ can be a syllable final
• Picture • pɪk . tʃər
/ɪ/ + consonant + consonant
/ɪ/ can't be a syllable final
• Chicken • tʃɪk . ən
/ɪ/ + consonant + schwa
/ɪ/ can't be a syllable final
Practice: divide the following syllables
• writing • r aɪ . t ɪ ŋ
• paper • p eɪ . p ə r
• onset • ɒ[Link]
• evil • i: . v ə l
• divide • d ɪ . vaɪ d
• practice • præk.tɪs
• vowel • v aʊ . ə l v aʊ . w ə l
• prospect • prɒ[Link]
