Unit 7

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Unit 7- SYLLABLE & SYLLABIFICATION

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 One unit of
sound
Sing /sɪŋ/
Lady /ˈleɪdi/
Two units of
sound

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 One syllable
Sing /sɪŋ/
Lady /ˈleɪdi/
Two syllables

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 hire
• /ˈhaɪə/
• /ˈhaɪ-ər/

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 SYLLABLE

A syllable is a unit of spoken

message that is larger than a
single sound and usually
smaller than a word.

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 PHONETIC GROUNDS
Syllables consist “a centre which has little or
no obstruction to airflow and which sounds
comparatively loud; before and after that
centre (…) there will be greater obstruction to
airflow and/or less loud sound”
(Roach, 2000: 70)

E.g. cat /kæt/

 The “centre”: the vowel /æ/
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 PHONOLOGICAL GROUNDS
• The syllable is “a complex unit
made up of nuclear and marginal
elements”. Laver (1994: 114)
• Nuclear elements are the vowels or
syllabic segments
• Marginal elements are the
consonants.

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The word paint /peɪnt/

 ……………….is the nuclear

element
 ………………..are marginal
elements.

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The word paint /peɪnt/

 The diphthong /eɪ/ is the nuclear

element
 The initial consonant /p/ and the
final cluster /nt/ are marginal
elements.

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 Syllable
Phonetic view
A syllable contains a centre
which has little or no
obstruction to airflow and
which sounds
comparatively loud; before
and after that centre (…)
there will be greater
obstruction to airflow
and/or less loud sound”
Phonological view
The phonological syllable is a
complex unit made up of
nuclear and marginal
elements.
Nuclear elements are the
vowels or syllabic segments;
Marginal elements are the
consonants or non-syllabic
segments.
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 Sing /sɪŋ/ One syllable

Lady /ˈleɪdi/ Two syllables

Extra /ekstrǝ/ ?
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 ‘extra’ /ekstrǝ/
1. /e-kstrǝ/
2. /ek-strǝ/
3. /eks-trǝ/
4. /ekst-rǝ/
5. /ekstr- ǝ/

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SYLLABLE STRUCTURE

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 cat

/k/ /æ / /t/
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 Syllable structure is language specific
(Katamba,1989:155).

Parts Description Optionality

Onset Initial segment of a syllable Optional

Rhyme Core of a syllable, consisting of a Obligatory

nucleus and coda

Nucleus Central segment of a syllable Obligatory

Coda Closing segment of a syllable Optional

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 skin

/sk/ /ɪ / /n/
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 Onset Nucleus Coda

sea /s/ /i:/

/si:/
on

eye

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 Onset Peak Coda

sea /si:/ /s/ /i:/

on /ɒn/ /ɒ/ /n/

eye /aɪ/ /aɪ/

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More rules about Onset and Coda

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 The structure of the ONSET
• The maximum number of consonants within the onset is
three:
ONSET: (pre-initial) - (initial) - (post-initial)
• The first consonant in the onset is called pre-initial; the pre-
initial consonant is always /s/.
• The second consonant in the onset is called initial; this can
basically be any English consonant, especially if the onset
only consists of this initial consonant;
• The third consonant in the onset is called post-initial; Only 4
following consonants can be post-intial: /l/, /r/, /w/ and /j/

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 The structure of the ONSET
• The first consonant in the onset is called pre-initial;
the pre-initial consonant is always /s/.
• The second consonant in the onset is called initial;
this can basically be any English consonant,
especially if the onset only consists of this initial
consonant;
• The third consonant in the onset is called post-
initial; Only 4 following consonants can be post-
intial: /l/, /r/, /w/ and /j/
Pre-initial Initial Post-initial
fifth
f 27
 The structure of the ONSET
• The first consonant in the onset is called pre-initial;
the pre-initial consonant is always /s/.
• The second consonant in the onset is called initial;
this can basically be any English consonant,
especially if the onset only consists of this initial
consonant;
• The third consonant in the onset is called post-
initial; Only 4 following consonants can be post-
intial: /l/, /r/, /w/ and /j/
Pre-initial Initial Post-initial
twelve
t w 28
 The structure of the ONSET
• The first consonant in the onset is called pre-initial;
the pre-initial consonant is always /s/.
• The second consonant in the onset is called initial;
this can basically be any English consonant,
especially if the onset only consists of this initial
consonant;
• The third consonant in the onset is called post-
initial; Only 4 following consonants can be post-
intial: /l/, /r/, /w/ and /j/
Pre-initial Initial Post-initial
speak s p
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 The structure of the ONSET
• The first consonant in the onset is called pre-initial;
the pre-initial consonant is always /s/.
• The second consonant in the onset is called initial;
this can basically be any English consonant,
especially if the onset only consists of this initial
consonant;
• The third consonant in the onset is called post-
initial; Only 4 following consonants can be post-
intial: /l/, /r/, /w/ and /j/
Pre-initial Initial Post-initial
spring s p r
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 The structure of the ONSET
• The maximum number of consonants within the
onset is three:
ONSET: (pre-initial) - (initial) - (post-initial)
• The pre-initial consonant is always /s/.
• The initial can basically be any English consonant,
especially if the onset only consists of this initial
consonant;
• Only 4 following consonants can be post-intial: /l/,
/r/, /w/ and /j/
• Some combinations of consonants are not found
in English: sʒw, mr, hl, vw
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 The structure of the CODA
• The maximum number of the consonants within
the coda part is four.
CODA: (pre-final) - (final) - (post-final)
• Pre-final consonants can only be one of the
followings: /s/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /l/
• Final consonants can be basically any English
consonant except /h/, /r/, /w/, /j/
• Post-final consonants can only be one of the
followings: /s/, /z/, /t/, /d/, /θ/.

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 • There are two types of final two-
consonant clusters:
Pre-final + final (E.g. bank /bæŋk/)
Final + Post-final (E.g. bags /bæɡz/)

Analyze the coda structure of the following

word
Pre-final Final post-final
Fifth
f θ
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 • There are two types of final two-
consonant clusters:
Pre-final + final (E.g. bank /bæŋk/)
Final + Post-final (E.g. bags /bæɡz/)

Analyze the coda structure of the following

word
Pre-final Final post-final
Speaks s
k
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 • There are two types of final
three-consonant clusters:
Pre-final + final + post-final (E.g.
helped /helpt/)
Final + post final 1+ post final 2
(E.g. lapsed /læpst/)
Pre-final Final post-final
Next
k s, t
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 • There are two types of final
three-consonant clusters:
Pre-final + final + post-final (E.g.
helped /helpt/)
Final + post final 1+ post final 2
(E.g. lapsed /læpst/)
Pre-final Final post-final
fifths
f θ, s
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 • There are two types of final
three-consonant clusters:
Pre-final + final + post-final (E.g.
helped /helpt/)
Final + post final 1+ post final 2
(E.g. lapsed /læpst/)
Pre-final Final post-final
Faults
l t s
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 • Most final four-consonant clusters have
the following structure:
Pre-final + Final + post-final 1+ post
final 2
Final + Post final 1 + Post final 2 + Post
final 3

Pre-final Final post-final

twelfths
l f θ, s

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 • Most final four-consonant clusters have
the following structure:
Pre-final + Final + post-final 1+ post
final 2+ post-final 3
Final + Post final 1 + Post final 2 + Post
final 3

Pre-final Final post-final

prompts
m p t, s

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• Most final four-consonant clusters have
the following structure:
Pre-final + Final + post-final 1+ post
final 2+ post-final 3
Final + Post final 1 + Post final 2 + Post
final 3

Pre-final Final post-final

Texts
m pk t,s,st, s

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 The structure of the CODA
• The maximum number of the consonants within
the coda part is four.
CODA: (pre-final) - (final) - (post-final)
• Pre-final consonants can only be one of the
followings: /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /l/, /s/
• Final consonants can be basically any English
consonant except /h/, /r/, /w/, /j/
• Post-final consonants can only be one of the
followings: /s/, /z/, /t/, /d/, /θ/.

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 The structure of the ONSET
• The maximum number of consonants within the
onset is three:
• The pre-initial consonant is always /s/.
• The initial can basically be any English consonant.
• Only 4 following consonants can be post-intial:
/l/, /r/, /w/ and /j/
• Some combinations of consonants are not found
in English: sʒw, mr, hl, vw, dl…

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 Practice (Group work)
• Handout
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yaXMFhStBK
7jGIhsAy-rihLwmZVFUOz5/view?usp=sharing

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Which of these are permissible syllables in
English? Explain why.
1. sprɑ:θs 7. drɑ:w
2. vwɑ:ks 8. frɑ:lts
3. gwɑ:mz 9. skwɑ:ksθs
4. krɑ:h 10. trɑ:vz
5. ŋɑ:s 11. dlɑ:mg
6. knɑ:j 12. ʒrɑ:nk

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• sprɑ:θs: Permissible.
• vwɑ:ks : Not permissible (vw does not occur
in onset clusters).
• gwɑ:mz: Permissible.
• ŋɑ:s: Not permissible (does not occur in
onsets).
• knɑ:j: Not permissible (nasals never combine
with stops in onsets; j does not occur in
codas).

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• drɑ:w: Not permissible ( does not occur in
codas).
• frɑ:lts: Permissible.
• skwɑ:ksθs: Permissible.
• trɑ:vz: Permissible.
• dlɑ:mg: Not permissible (ddoes not combine
with l in onset clusters. )
• ʒrɑ:nk: Not permissible (/ʒ/ does not occur in
onset clusters. Nasals combining with stops in
codas are invariably homorganic.)

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NOTE

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 ‘extra’ /ekstrǝ/
1. /e-kstrǝ/
2. /ek-strǝ/
3. /eks-trǝ/
3. /ekst-rǝ/
4. /ekstr- ǝ/

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 SYLLABICATION
(syllable division)
Syllabification or syllabication is
the separation of a word into
syllables, whether spoken or
written.

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 ‘extra’ /ekstrǝ/
1. /e-kstrǝ/
2. /ek-strǝ/  The maximum
number of
3. /eks-trǝ/ consonants in the
3. /ekst-rǝ/ onset is 3.
 The maximum
4. /ekstr- ǝ/ number of
consonants in the
coda is four.

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 ‘extra’ /ekstrǝ/
1. /e-kstrǝ/
2. /ek-strǝ/  The maximum
number of
3. /eks-trǝ/ consonants in the
4. /ekst-rǝ/ onset is 3.
 The maximum
5. /ekstr- ǝ/ number of
consonants in the
coda is four.

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 ‘extra’ /ekstrǝ/
1. /e-kstrǝ/
2. /ek-strǝ/
3. /eks-trǝ/  /r/ cannot be the
4. /ekst-rǝ/ post-final
consonant
5. /ekstr- ǝ/

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 MAXIMAL ONSETS PRINCIPLE
This principle states that where two syllables are
to be divided , any consonants between them
should be attached to the right-hand syllable,
not the left as far as possible within the
restrictions governing syllable onsets and codas.
1. /e-kstrǝ/
2. /ek-strǝ/
The highest
3. /eks-trǝ/ number of
4. /ekst-rǝ/ consonants in
5. /ekstr- ǝ/ the onset (3) 53
Practice

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Divide the following words into syllables, and explain the basis on
which the syllabication is made.

• Expansion /ɪk-spæn-ʃn/
• Singing /sɪŋ-ɪŋ/
• Hanger /ˈhæŋ-ər/
• Driver /ˈdraɪ-vər/
• Living
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Divide the following words into syllables, and explain the basis on
which the syllabication is made.

• Expansion /ɪk-spæn-ʃn/
• Singing / sɪŋ-ɪŋ/
• Hanger /hæŋ-ər/
• Driver /draɪ-və/
• Living /lɪv-ɪŋ/*
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 /ˈlɒŋ-ɡə(r)/ /ˈlɒŋɡ-ə(r)/?

•ŋɡ? Coda
+ pre final + final
+ final + post final
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 Note
• Stressed syllables usually have codas.
E.g. singer /ˈsɪŋ-ə(r)
• Prefixes and Suffixes are usually
separated from the base.
E.g. dancing /ˈdɑːns-ɪŋ/

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 CLOSED AND OPEN SYLLABLES

• Closed syllables end in a consonant

e.g. cat /kæt/, it /ɪt/, eat /i:t/
• Open syllables end in a vowel
e.g. sea /si:/ or eye /aɪ/

• In terms of syllable structure, in closed

syllables the Coda is present, while in open
ones the Coda element is absent.
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 Heavy AND Light SYLLABLES
• Syllables are heavy when the rhyme
contains:
(1) a long vowel or a diphthong as in “tea”
(2) a short vowel followed by one or more
consonants ,as in “ten”.
• Light syllables are those with rhymes
containing a short vowel alone
without a coda.
E.g. forget /fəˈɡet/
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