Syllabic structure of English words.pptx

SYLLABIC
STRUCTURE OF
ENGLISH WORDS

Outline
1. General characteristic of syllables
2. Theories on syllables formation
3. The structure of syllables
4. Rules of syllable division
5. Graphic characteristics of the syllable division
6. Functional characteristic of the syllable

1. General characteristic of
syllables
Syllable is a unit of organization
for a sequence of speech
sounds. It is typically made up
of a syllable nucleus (most
often a vowel) with optional
initial and final margins
(typically, consonants).
syllable, a segment of speech that
consists of a vowel, with or
without one or more
accompanying consonant
sounds immediately preceding
or following—for example, a,
I, out, too, cap, snap, check.
A syllabic consonant, such as
the final n sound in button
and widen, also constitutes a
syllable

syllables
■ A word that consists of a single syllable (like English dog) is
called a monosyllable (and is said to be monosyllabic). Similar
terms include disyllable (and disyllabic; also bisyllable and
bisyllabic) for a word of two syllables; trisyllable (and
trisyllabic) for a word of three syllables; and polysyllable (and
polysyllabic), which may refer either to a word of more than
three syllables or to any word of more than one syllable.
1. Purely articulatory unit
2. Smallest pronounceable unit
Features of syllable
■ Chain of phonemes
■ Constructed on the basis of contrast
■ Nucleus is a vowel
■ Distribution of phonemes is specific
for a particular language

syllables
■ Though the basic phonological elements are phonemes,
human intercommunication is actualized in syllables.
■ The syllable as a unit is difficult to define, though native
speakers of a lunguage are usually able to state how
many syllables there are in a particular word.
■ According to J. Kenyon the syllable is one or more speech
sounds, forming a single uninterrupted unit of utterance,
which may be a word, or a commonly recognized
subdivision of a word.
The syllable can be a
single word: chair /tςεə/,
a part of a word: English /'ıŋglıς/,
a part of the grammatical form of a
word: later /'leı-ta/.

syllables
■ Acoustically and auditorily the syllable is characterized
by the force of utterance, or accent, pitch of the voice,
sonority and length, that is by prosodic features.
■ Acoustic properties of syllables are studied with the help
of intonograph and spectrograph. Electroacoustic analysis
made it possible to formulate some rules of syllable
division (see below).
■ Spectrograms of Russian ГС syllabic structures show, that
such syllables are characterized by some noise in the
beginning of the vowel and by a vowel-like termination of
the consonant: сГCг, it is of great importance for syllable
division.

2. Theories on syllables formation
■ Ancient theory
■ Expiratory (chest pulse, pressure) (R.H. Stetson)
■ Sonority (O. Jesperson)
<the least sonorous> voiceless plosivesvoiced fricatives voiced
plosives voiced fricatives sonorants close vowels open
vowels <the most sonorous>
■ Muscular tension (L.V. Shcherba)
■ Loudness (N.I. Zhinkin)

Sonority (O. Jesperson)
■ О. Jespersen established the scale of sonority of sounds,
that is, the scale of their inherent prominence
■ Scale of Sonority
1. low vowels /а:, o:, υ, æ/
2. mid vowels /e, з:, ə, Λ/
3. high vowels /i:, ı, u:, u/
4. semi-vowels /w, j/
5. sonorants /1, r, m, n, n/
6. voiced constrictive consonants /v, z, 3, ð/
7. voiced plosive consonants /b, d, g/
8. voiceless constrictive consonants and affricates /f, tς, d3,
f, s, h, θ/
9. voiceless plosive consonants /p, t, k/

Muscular tension (L.V.
Shcherba)
■ The "arc of loudness" or "arc of articulatory tension"
theory is based on L.V. Shcherba's statement that
the centre of a syllable is the syllable forming
phoneme.
■ Shcherba distinguishes the following types of
consonants;
finally strong (initially weak), they occur at the
beginning of the syllable;
finally weak (initially strong), they occur at the end of
a closed syllable,
double peaked (combination of two similar sounds): in
their articulation the beginning and the end are
energetic and the middle is weak.

■ A syllable can be formed by a vowel: (V) in English, (Г) in
Russian; by a vowel and a consonant: (VC) in English, (ГС) in
Russian; by a consonant and a sonorant (CS).
■ Г, V — types of syllable called uncovered open,
■ ГС, VC — types of syllable called uncovered closed,
■ СГС, CVC — types of syllable called covered closed,
■ СГ, CV — types of syllable called covered open.
■ G. P. Torsuyev suggests a differentiation of the following
Russian types of syllabic structures:
■ Г, V type: fully open,
■ СГС, CVC type: fully closed,
■ СГ, CV type: initially covered,
■ ГС, VC type: finally covered

English Russian
V err Г и
CVC pit СГС пол
CVCC fact СГСС вопль
CVCC lasped СГССС текст
CCVC plan ССГС жнец
CCCVC spleen СССГС взлом
CCVCC twist ССГСС фланг
CCVCCC stamps ССГССС спектр
CCCVCC spleens СССГСС вдрызг
CVCCCC texts СГСССС монстр
CV dew СГ но
CCV spy ССГ дно
CCCV straw СССГ мгла
VC eat ГС ад
VCC act ГСС акр
VCCC asks ГССС астр

■ The peak or the crest of the syllable is formed by a vowel
or a sonorant. The consonants which precede the peak
and follow it are called slopes.
Vowels /æ, e, Λ, υ, a:, o:, eı, aı, аu, εə, oı/ constitute
almost always the peaks of prominence, /ə, ı, u, эu/ occur,
as a rale, in unaccented syllables.
The consonant /ŋ/ never begins, /w/ never terminates the
syllable.
The sonorants /w, r, j/, SVC structural type, function as
consonants, because they occur only before vowels: e.g.
/wıð, raıt, jes/.

■ The structural patterns of
syllables formed by sonorants
with a preceding consonant in
English are similar to V+C
patterns: CS written /rıtn/.
According to G. P
. Torsuyev's data
the syllabic structure in the
Englishlanguage of the combination
consonant (terminal position) +a so-
norant is characterized by the
following data:
CS type — 40 combinations, CSC
type — 90 combinations, CSCC type
15 combinations, CCSCC type — 1
combination: trnts — entrants.

■ Syllable-forming sonorants in the combinations of the CS
type are terminal/m, n, 1/. E.g.
earthen channel prism equal
people garden often nation
written eagle even decision
taken fortunate listen rhythm
able angel season camel

■ The distribution of consonants in the syllables of the CSC
type is characterised by the following features: initial
consonants may be represented by /p, b, t, d, k, g, f, v,
θ, ð, s, z, 3, tς, d3, m, r, w, n/; the peak sonorants may
be represented by /n, m, 1/; final consonants are
represented by /t, d, s, z, θ/. E.g.
opens vacant goggles ovens patient
marbles enables merchant arrivals angels
patterns mortals urgent heathens equalled
coupled student softened rhythms motions
peoples gardens servant decent whistles
officials eleventh present persons

■ The distribution of consonants in the syllables of the
CSCC type is characterized by the following features: the
initial consonant maybe represented by /p, d, t, tς, d3, f,
v, s, z, ς, 3, r/. The peak of syllable is represented by the
sonorants /n, 1/, they are immediately followed by /t, d,
s/; final consonants are represented by /t, s, z/. E.g.
innocents agents patents tangents parents
serpents students servants pheasants errands
patiens scaffolds licensed merchants herralds

■ The syllables of the CSVSCC type:
entrants /'entrənts/, emigrants /'emıgrənts/,
minstrels /'mınstrəls/, hydrants /'haıdrənts/
■ can be pronounced without (V) — CSSCC type, e.g.
emigrants /'emıgrnts/ entrants /'entrnts/
minstrels /'mınstrlz/ hydrants /'haıdrnts/

■ English VC, CVC structures are much more common than the
Russian СГ structural type. СГ prevalence in the Russian syllabic
structure M'Mills in the appearance of the vocalic element of /ъ,
ь/ type inside or before the CC clusters.
■ The most commonly occur in /гд, дг/ combinations, e.g. "игде",
"отгул".
■ Similar clusters in English are pronounced with the loss of plosion,
e.g. good day, that cat.

• Rules of Syllable Division that Apply to Multisyllabic Words
• Rule 1:
If there are 2 consonant letters between 2 separated vowels,
divide between them.
bedbug catnip mascot uphill
• Rule 2:
If there is only 1 consonant letter between 2 separated vowels,
FOR NOW…the consonant letter goes with the first syllable to
‘close in’ the vowel so it retains its ‘short’ sound.
relish limit robin edit
• Rule 3:
Keep consonant digraphs together (sh, ch, ck, th, wh), do NOT split them
up.
bathmat nutshell dishpan bathtub

• Rule 4:
If there are 3 consonant letters between 2 separated vowels, keep
common blends together. Be flexible in your decoding.
Gumdrop handbag chestnut contract
• Rule 5:
If you can make the blend both ways, remember that in most cases, the
blend will go with the second syllable.
hundred bobsled tantrum
• Rule 6:
If there are 4 consonant letters between 2 separated vowels bust between
them.
handclasp gangplank grandslam

Here are the different rules
to break words into syllables:
Rule 1: VC/CV – Split 2
consonants that are between
vowels.
Whenever 2 consonants come
together in a word, divide
between them: VC/CV
The exceptions to this are to
keep consonant digraphs (i.e.
ch, ph, ck) and consonant
blends (i.e. bl, st, fr)
together.

Rule 2: C+le – The ending -le
usually takes the consonant
before it to make one syllable.
When a word ends with a
consonant and -le, divide it
before the consonant so that
the last syllable is C+le.
The silent e in C+le words
helps add that vowel sound we
need in every consonant. It’s
one of the many jobs of silent
e.

Rule 3: V/CV & VC/V – Split
before or after a consonant
that comes between 2 vowels.
When only one consonant
comes between vowels, divide
after the first vowel: V/CV.
This makes the first syllable an
open syllable, and it will have
a long sound.
Pronounce the word with an
open syllable. If this doesn’t
make a word that sounds
familiar, then divide after the
consonant: VC/V. This makes
the first syllable closed, so the
vowel will say its short sound.

Rule 4: V/V – Split 2 vowels next
to each other that do not work
as a team.
If a vowel combination is in
reverse, divide between the
vowels: V/V. In this case, each
vowel will have a sound.
It’s so important for students to
know common vowel teams so
they don’t split those up! If
students are still learning basic
vowel teams, wait to teach this
syllable division pattern. Words
like “beach” and “boat” have
vowel teams that do not get
split. These vowel teams work
together to represent one
vowel sound.

Rule 5: VC/CCV & VCC/CV – Split
before or after the second
consonant when 3 consonants come
together.
When three consonants come
together, divide after the first
consonant: VC/CCV. If this doesn’t
make a word that sounds familiar,
divide after the second constant:
VCC/CV.
These words often contain blends
and digraphs, which if you recall,
do not get broken up. When you
see 3 or more consonants together,
look for blends and digraphs to help
determine where to split the word.

Rule 6: Divide after a prefix and
before a suffix.
When you see a prefix, divide the
word right after it. When you see
a suffix, divide right before it.
There are a few exceptions to
suffixes creating their own
syllable, but this will be apparent
after the student has split up the
word and tried to pronounce it.
The exception to this rule is the
suffix -ed. Sometimes this does
not create an extra vowel sound,
such as in the words jumped and
sailed. Regardless, once the suffix
is identified and the word is
pronounced, you’ll know if it’s a
syllable or not.

5. Graphic characteristics of the
syllable division
unknown liner
maker
[ˌʌn-ˈnɜʊn] [ˈlaın-ǝ] [ˈmeık-ǝ]
Syllabographs
table [ˈteıb-ǝl]
ta-ble
laden [ˈleıd-ǝn]
la-den

Graphic Characteristic of the
Syllable Division
1. Constitutive Function
The syllable as a phonological unit performs three functions:
constituitive, distinctive, identificatory. They are closely
connected.
2. Distinctive and Differentiatory Function
The distinctive, differentiatory function of the syllabic
boundary makes it possible to introduce the term "juncture".
3. Identificatory Function
This function is conditioned by the pronunciation of the
speaker. The listener can understand the exact meaning of
the utterance only if he perceives the correct syllabic
boundary

Syllable Division
■ Division of words into syllables in writing (syllabographs)
is based on morphological principles. The morphological
principle of word division in orthography demands that
the partof a word, which is separated, should be either a
prefix, or a suffix, or a root (morphograph): un-divided,
utter-ance, pun-ish, be-fore.
Word Phonetic
syllables
Syllabographs
table /'teıb- əl/ ta-ble
laden /'leıd- ən/ la-den
Spanish /'spæn-ıς/ Span-ish

Rules to divide a word in writing:
1. Never divide a word within a syllable.
2. Never divide an ending (a suffix) of two syllables such as -able, -
ably, -fully.
3. With the exception of -ly, never divide a word so that an ending
of two letters such as -ed, -er, -ic begins the next line.
4. Never divide a word so that one of the parts is a single letter.
5. Never divide a word of one syllable.
6. Never divide a word of less than five letters.
Syllable Division

6. Functional characteristic
of the syllable
1. Constitutive
2. Distinctive (differentiatory)
lightening – lightning
close/open juncture
a name – an aim, ice cream – I scream,
we loan – will own
3. Identificatory Syllabo-disjuncture
pea stalks – peace talks, my train –
might rain

■ 1. constitutive function. Syl-s constitute words, phrases,
sentences through the combination of their prosodic
features: loudness – stress, pitch-tone, duration – length
and tmpo. Syl-s can be stressed, unstressed, high, mid,
low, rising, falling, long, short.
of the syllable

■ 2. distinctive and differentiatory function. There are
rather many combinations in English distinguished from
each other by means of the difference in the place of the
syllabic boundary: a name — an aim, ice cream — I
scream.
■ The distinctive, differentiatory function of the syllabic
boundary makes it possible to introduce the term
"juncture".
of the syllable

■ 3.Identificatory Function. This function is conditioned by
the pronunciation of the speaker. The listener can
understand the exact meaning of the utterance only if he
perceives the correct syllabic boundary — "syllabo-
disjuncture"
of the syllable

Источники:
■ Syllables! | Scratch Garden
■ https://studopedia.su/7_35952_Theories-of-Syllable-
Formation-and-Syllable-Division.html
■ PHONETICS-8: Syllable Structure
■ https://studopedia.su/7_35951_Lecture--Syllable.html
■ https://yagu.s-
vfu.ru/pluginfile.php/363475/mod_resource/content/1/L
ecture%205.pdf

Тест
■ What is a syllable?
a)A syllable is a unit of organization for a sequence of speech sounds
b) A syllable most important part in a word
c) A syllable an instument used by researchers in order to analise sounds
■ What are the components that make a syllable?
a)The syllable is made up of a logically structured sound sequence
b) The syllable is formed by a vowel and a consonat
c)Typically it is made up of a syllable nucleus (most often a vowel) with
optional initial and final margins (typically, consonants)
■ How many theories of syllable formation we distinguish?
a)2
b)3
c)4

Тест
■ What did Zhinkin discover?
a) N. Zhinkin discovered the relation between the toungue and the digestion
process
b) N. Zhinkin showed that it is the pharynx, which is responsible for the
variations in the loudness of the syllable
c) N. Zhinkin disovered that the larynx is not responsable for the variation in
the loudness of the syllable
■ What is a sonorant?
a) the sonorant is a speech sound that is produced without turbulent airflow in
the vocal tract
b) the sonorant is the auditory diffence between a consonat and a vowel
c) the sonorant is is a unit of organization for a sequence of speech sounds
■ What represents the crest of a syllable?
a)The peak or the crest of the syllable is formed by a loudness of a sound
b) The peak or the crest of the syllable is formed by a loudness of the syllable
c) The peak or the crest of the syllable is formed by consonants

Тест
■ How many rules of Syllables Division there are?
a)6
b)2
c)3
■ What are the functions of the syllable as a phonological unit?
a) constituitive
b) distinctive
c) identificatory
d) all of them
■ How many tones does H. Sweet distinguish?
a) 3 tones and 2 additional
b) 8 tones
c) 4 tones

Тест
■ what are the main approaches to the problem of intonation in
Great Britain?
a) the contour analysis and grammatical problem
b)the analytical problem and the literary problem
c)the gin and tonic prblem
■ what we understand as intonation in the English language?
a)the way we pronounce a vowel
b)the way we pronounce a consonant
c)Intonation is a complex unity of non-segmental features of speech
■ what do we consider as the nucleus in a syllble?
a) the vowel
b) the consonat
c) the highest-pitched sound of a word

Тест
■ What is a syllable?
a)A syllable is a unit of organization for a sequence of speech
sounds
b) A syllable most important part in a word
c) A syllable an instument used by researchers in order to analise sounds
■ What are the components that make a syllable?
a)The syllable is made up of a logically structured sound sequence
b) The syllable is formed by a vowel and a consonat
c)Typically it is made up of a syllable nucleus (most often a vowel)
with optional initial and final margins (typically, consonants)
■ How many theories of syllable formation we distinguish?
a)2
b)3
c)4

Тест
■ what are the main approaches to the problem of intonation in
Great Britain?
a) the contour analysis and grammatical problem
b)the analytical problem and the literary problem
c)the gin and tonic prblem
■ what we understand as intonation in the English language?
a)the way we pronounce a vowel
b)the way we pronounce a consonant
c)Intonation is a complex unity of non-segmental features of
speech
■ what do we consider as the nucleus in a syllble?
a) the vowel
b) the consonat
c) the highest-pitched sound of a word

Practical TaSKs
■ Pronounce and Count how many syllables are in a word
13. Cat [ kat ]
14. seamen ˈsiːmən
15. Camelot [ kam-uh-lot ]
16. Apple [ ap-uhl ]
17. humongous hu-mon-gous [ hyuˈmʌŋ gəs ]
18. pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis/ [ ˈnu
mə noʊˌʌl trəˌmaɪ krəˌskɒp ɪkˈsɪl ɪˌkoʊ vɒlˌkeɪ noʊˌkoʊ niˈoʊ
sɪs ]
19. come / kʌm /

Practical TaSKs
■ Pronounce and Count how many syllables are in a word
13. Cat [ kat ] 1 syllable
14. seamen ˈsiːmən 2 syllables sea-men
15. Camelot [ kam-uh-lot ] 3 syllablesà Cam-e-lot
16. Apple [ ap-uhl ] 2 syllable
17. humongous hu-mon-gous hyuˈmʌŋ gəs, -ˈmɒŋ- 3 syllables
18. pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis/ ˈnu mə
noʊˌʌl trəˌmaɪ krəˌskɒp ɪkˈsɪl ɪˌkoʊ vɒlˌkeɪ noʊˌkoʊ niˈoʊ sɪs,
ˈnyu- / pneu-mo-no-ul-tra-mi-cro-scop-ic-sil-i-co-vol-ca-no-
co-ni-o-sis 19 syllables
19. come / kʌm / 1syllable

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