ENGLISH PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY IProf. Adriana Gonzalez

THE ENGLISH SYLLABLE

WHAT IS IT?

It is a very important unit. Phonetically (in relation to the way

we produce then and the way they sound), syllables are usually

described as consisting of a centre which has little or no

obstruction to airflow and which sounds comparatively loud,

before and after this centre (at the beginning or at the end of

the syllable). There will be greater obstruction to airflow and/or

less loud sound.

ELEMENTS OF A SYLLABLE

Some syllables would be composed by a single vowel in isolation which is

called: MINIMUM SYLLABLE. A vowel sound stands as the CENTRE of the

syllable and it is the only obligatory element: are – or – err

Some syllables have an ONSET, which is made up of all the consonants

before the nucleus. It is an optional element: bar – key – more

ELEMENTS OF A SYLLABLE

Some syllables may have no onset but a CODA, which is everything

after the nucleus. It is an optional element: am – ought – ease

Some syllables have ONSET and CODA: run – sit – fill

STRUCTURE OF THE ENGLISH SYLLABLE

The English Syllable consists of a vowel as the centre of the syllabe and a possible

combination of three consonant sounds before the vowel and a possible combination of

four consonant sounds after the vowel.

STRUCTURE OF THE ENGLISH SYLLABLE

CCC V CCCC

C3 vowel C4

SPRAY /sprei/RUN /rn/

TEXTS /teksts/

SYLLABIC CONSONANT

It occurs in syllables in which no vowels can be found. In this

case, a consonant, either /l/, /r/ or a nasal: /n/ /m/ //,

stand as the centre of the syllable instead of a vowel. It’s usual

to indicate that a consonant is syllabic by means of a small

vertical mark