The Phonology of

English
Rachma nurma gupita
Hanan Faizah Ulfa
 Syllable
• A syllable is one or more letters representing a unit of spoken language
 consisting of a single uninterrupted sound.
• A syllable that stands alone is called a monosyllable. A word containing
two or more syllables is called a polysyllable.
 Consonant Clusters

• a consonant cluster (CC) is a group of two or more consonant sounds

that come before (called an onset), after (called a coda) or between
(called medial) vowels.
• Pearce illustrates the common three-item initial consonant clusters in the
following words: "spl/ split, /spr/ sprig, /spj/ spume, /str/ strip, /stj/ stew,
/skl/ sclerotic, /skr/ screen, /skw/ squad, /skj/ skua," wherein every word
must start with an "s," be followed by a voiceless stop like "p" or "t" and a
liquid or glide like "l" or "w." 
 Word Stress
• In English, we do not say each syllable with the same force or strength. In one word, we
accentuate ONE syllable. We say one syllable very loudly (big, strong, important) and all the
other syllables very quietly. In some languages, each syllable in each word is pronounced with
the exact same stress.
There are many exceptions to the rules. The word stress rules in English are complicated.
Remember that there are exceptions to every rule. Use a dictionary to check the word stress of
new words. Soon, you will know English well enough to add word stress naturally.

It is important that you stress the right syllables, so people can hear and understand your words. 
•  
 Supra segmental

• Suprasegmental, also called Prosodic Feature, in phonetics, a speech

 feature such as stress, tone, or word juncture that accompanies or is added
over consonants and vowels; these features are not limited to single
sounds but often extend over syllables, words, or phrases.