Lecture 4 - Syllables of Lecture Phonetics & Phonology has content: Definition, The nature of syllables, The structure of English syllables, Strong and weak syllables. | Lecture 4 Syllables • Definition • The nature of syllables • The structure of English syllables • Strong and weak syllables 1 Definition • Phonetically, a syllable is a unit which consists of a vowel as the centre and/or consonant(s) before and after it. . Are /å / No /n\¨/ At /æt/ Cat /kæt/ • A syllable can be part of a word or it can coincide with a word. 2 The nature of syllables • A minimum syllable is a single vowel in isolation . are /å / or /ø / err /± / • Some syllables have an onset. That is they have more than just silence preceding the centre of the syllable. . my /maˆ/ • Some syllables may have no onset but have a coda (termination). . on /Ån/ • Some syllabes have both an onset and a termination. . meat /mi t/ 3 Structure of English syllables Syllable Onset (Optional) Centre Coda (Optional) 4 Syllable onset • If the first syllable of the word begins with • A vowel → Zero Onset . ease our • One consonant → initial consonant . send church • Two or more consonants together → an initial consonant cluster. . clear spring 5
