The structure of
the syllable
The syllable and Clusters
Lic. Marisa R. Jara
Let’s recall on some
deffinitions:
PHONETICS
A vowel sound is a sound
in the production on which
the air stream comes out
over the tongue and meets a
stricture of open
approximation.
A consonant sound is a
sound in the production of
which the air stream coming
from our lungs meets a
stricture of complete, partial
oral closure, or of close
approximation.
From the Phonetic point of
view, a SYLLABLE (a unit of
spoken language larger than a
phoneme) is usually described
as consisting of a centre which
has little or no obstruction to
airflow. The nucleus sounds
comparatively loud compared
to the marginal elements.
Let’s recall on some deffinitions:
PHONOLOGY
A vowel sound is a sound which
is the central element in a
syllable.
A consonant sound is a sound
which is the marginal element in
a syllable.
A syllable is a word or part of a
word pronounced with a single,
uninterrupted sounding of the
voice; i. e., it is a unit of
pronunciation, consisting of a
single sound of great sonority
(usually a vowel) and generally
one or more sounds of lesser
sonority (usually consonants)
The nature of the
syllable:
1. A minimun syllable would
be a single vowel in isolation, e.g.
the words “are”, “or”, “err”,
(isolated cons. Sounds:/ m/(when
we show agreement) /ʃ / (when
we ask for silence) are /ɑ: / or /ɔ:/
err /ɜ:/
2. Some syllables have an onset:
the element preceding the centre
of the syllable. ONSE
/rʌn/ /bɑ:/
T
/ki:/ /mɔ:/
Note:
Sometimes there is no
element before the centre of
the syllable. That is called
zero onset: e.g. /ɪz/
If we have one element before
the centre, it can be any of the
consonants EXCEPT the velar
/ ɳ / and the fricative / ʒ /
(which is rare in initial
position)
3. Some syllables have a
coda:
The element following the
centre of the syllable.
/æm/ /i:z/
CODA/r^n/
4. Some syllables have onset
and coda:
“run” /rʌn/ “sat” /sæt/ “fill” /fɪl/
This is one way of looking
at syllables…
i.e. from the phonetics
point of view …
Let’s see syllables from the
Phonological point of view…
(The study of the possible phoneme combinations of a
language is called Phonotactis)
1. Let’s consider syllable onsets only:
1.a. If the first syllable in a word
begins with a vowel (by the way, any
vowel can occur, except / ʊ / which
is rare), we say that this initial
syllable has zero onset .
1.b. If the syllable begins with one
consonant (by the way, any
consonant phoneme except /ɳ / or /
ʒ/ which is rare), we say the syllable
has an onset.
1.c. When we have two consonants
together in initial or final position, we
have a consonant cluster in initial
or final position respectively.
The structure of the
syllable
INITIAL 2 CONSONANT
CLUSTER: Two sorts:
[Link] composed of /s/ followed
by 1 of a small set of consonants.
The /s/ in these clusters is called
“pre initial”
Examples:
/s/ pre initial cons of:
/s/ + / p t k f m n l w j r /
PRE INITIAL INITIAL
See table 2 page 72 “English
Phonetics and Phonology” by
Peter Roach.
2. Initial consonant followed by
one of the set /l,r,w,j/
/p,t,k,f,m,n,/ + /l r w j/ e.g. try /
traɪ/ quick /kwɪk/ few /fju:/
Note: you can see more e.g. on page 73.
i.e.
/p,t,k,f,m,n/ = initial cons.
/l,r,w,j/ = post initial cons.
Note: there are some restrictions on
which cons. can occur together, see
table 3 page 74)
INITIAL 3 CONSONANT CLUSTERS
/sprei/ pre init, initial, post initial
(quite small number of
posibilities)
(Page 73, Peter Roach)
Dictation: examples to transcribe
We have a similar task to do in
studyinf final consonant
clusters….
Up to 4 consonants at the end of a
word.
If there is no final consonant we say
that there is a zero coda (open
syllable).
When there is 1 consonant only at
the end of a word, we call it the
final consonant (then we have
coda).
Any consonant can be FINAL
CONSONANT except: /h, r, w, j/
FINAL CLUSTERS :
* Two consonant final cluster
Two sorts:
1. Pre Final + Final
/s, l, m, n, ɳ/ + any consonant
Examples to transcribe:
bump, bent, bank, belt, ask.
2. Final + Post final
any consonant + /s, z, t, d, ø/
Examples to transcribe:
Bets, beds, backed, bagged, eighth
Three consonant final cluster
Pre final + Final + Post Final1
Examples to transcribe:
Helped, banks, bonds, twelfth
Four consonant final cluster
Pre final + Final + Post Final 1+
Post Final 2
Examples to transcribe:
Next, lapsed, fifths
To sum up……
We may describe the English
syllable as having the following
maximum phonological
structure:
Pre Post VOWE Pre Post Post P
Initial Final
Initial Initial L Final final 1 final 1 fi
ONSET CODA
Syllabic consonants = special case in which
they can function as the center of the syllable.
Examples: students, struggle, bottle, threaten,
uppermost, thicken, Hungary