SYLLABLES

I. Feature-segment-syllable

II. Nature of syllables

III. Structure of English

syllables

IV. Syllable division

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I.
1. Feature
2. Segment
3. Syllable
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1. Feature
➜ smallest phonological units to build up/
define the segment

Ex: /b/: [+voiced], [+ obstruent], [-continuant]

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2. segment
➜ speech sounds made by putting several
features together/ units built up from
features.
➜ Phonological discreet units used to build
up the syllable,

Ex: /k 1 n/ can be segmented into /k/, /1/, /n/

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3. Syllable( suprasegmental unit –
đơn vị âm chiết đoạn)
➜ Rhythmic unit of speech.
➜ Comprises one or more segments
➜ Phonological units used to build up the
word.
Ex: /k`nd1/ - candy

k`n d1
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II. Nature of syllables

“
Phonetic ground
Phonological ground
Phonetically, “syllables are usually described as
consisting of a center which has little or no
obstruction to airflow and which sounds
comparatively loud; before and after this center
(that is, at the beginning or at the end of the
syllable), there will be greater obstruction to airflow
and/or less loud sound.” [Roach (2001):70]
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Vowels only words

🔑 The minimum syllable would be a vowel in
isolation such as the words are /a:/, or /0:/, err
/+/
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Which sounds in isolation can

function as syllables?
🔑 The minimum syllable would be a vowel in
isolation such as the words are /a:/, or /0:/, err
/+/
🔑 Isolation sounds such as m (to indicate
agreement) and S (to ask for silence): also
regarded as syllables
🔑 The minimum syllable would be a vowel in
isolation such as the words are /a:/, or /0:/, err
/+/
🔑 Isolation sounds such as m (to indicate
agreement) and S (to ask for silence): also
regarded as syllables
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C–V V–C V- C – V

car ease hat

more ought bag
cure at love
🔑 Some syllables have onsets (sounds preceding the
centre of the syllable)
Ex: car /ka:/ more /mO/

🔑 some syllables have no onsets but the coda (sounds

following the centre of the syllable)

Ex: ease /i:z/ ought /0:t/

🔑 Some syllables have both onset and coda

Ex: sit /s1t/ bag /b`g/

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III. Structure of
English syllables
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 syllable

rhyme/rime

onset nucleus/ peak coda

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CHECK UP
T 1. English syllables can be divided into 2 parts, the onset and rhyme.
F 2. Most English words have all the onset, the peak and the coda.
F 3. The peak can be absent in an English word.
T 4. The onset and coda can be absent in an English word.
T 5. Rhyme can’t be absent in an English word.
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The onset
v If a syllable can begin with a vowel, it has zero onset.

v If a syllable begins with one consonant, that initial

consonant may be any phoneme but 7; 2 is rare.

v A syllable can begin with two or three consonants, and

we call this consonant combination consonant cluster.
Consonant cluster s Ç t, p, m, k, f, n (1)
s Ç l, r, w, j (2
some phonemes + l, r, w, j (3)
1. s is called pre-initial consonant; t, p, m, k, f, n are called
initial consonants
2. s is called initial consonant; l, r, w, j are called post initial
consonants.
3. some phonemes are called initial consonants; l, r, w, j are
called post initial consonants
1. s Ç t, p, m, k, f, n
st1k, sp1n, sm0:l, ski:, sf19, sn!
s: pre-initial consonant
t, p, m, k, f, n : initial consonant
2. s Ç l, r, w, j
sli:p, sr1nd2, sw1m, sju:
These clusters can be analyzed either as pre-initial s plus
initial l, r, w, j or initial s plus post initial l, r, w, j
3. some phonemes + l, r, w, j
pl$, tr#, kw1k, fju:
The first consonants are called initial consonants; the
second post-initial.
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The CODA
Want big impact? Use big image. 28
• If there is no consonant at the end of the word, that word has zero
coda.
• If there is 1 consonant at the end of the word, that consonant is
called final consonant. (any consonant may be final but h, r, w, j)
• There are two kinds of two-consonant cluster: pre-final+ final or
final + post-final
• The pre-final can be m, n, 7, l, s while the post final may be s, z, t,
d, 8
• There are two kinds of three-consonant cluster: pre-final +final +
post-final or final + post-final 1 + post final 2
 SYLLABLE STRUCTURE

ONSET CODA

WORDS PEAK
Post- Post -
Pre-initial Initial Pre- final Final Post - Post -
initial final 1
/s/ /n, 7/ /l,r,w,j/ /l,m,n,7,s/ /h,n,r,j/ /s,z,t,d,8/ final 2 final 3

split s p l i: t

scream

bank

next

helped
 SYLLABLE STRUCTURE

ONSET CODA

WORDS PEAK
Post- Post -
Pre-initial Initial Pre- final Final Post - Post -
initial final 1
/s/ /n, 7/ /l,r,w,j/ /l,m,n,7,s/ /h,n,r,j/ /s,z,t,d,8/ final 2 final 3

split s p l i: t

scream s k r i: m

bank

next

helped
 SYLLABLE STRUCTURE

ONSET CODA

WORDS PEAK
Post- Post -
Pre-initial Initial Pre- final Final Post - Post -
initial final 1
/s/ /n, 7/ /l,r,w,j/ /l,m,n,7,s/ /h,n,r,j/ /s,z,t,d,8/ final 2 final 3

split s p l i: t

scream s k r i: m

bank b ` 7 k

next

helped
 SYLLABLE STRUCTURE

ONSET CODA

WORDS PEAK
Post- Post -
Pre-initial Initial Pre- final Final Post - Post -
initial final 1
/s/ /n, 7/ /l,r,w,j/ /l,m,n,7,s/ /h,n,r,j/ /s,z,t,d,8/ final 2 final 3

split s p l i: t

scream s k r i: m

bank b ` 7 k

next n e k s t

helped
 SYLLABLE STRUCTURE

ONSET CODA

WORDS PEAK
Post- Post -
Pre-initial Initial Pre- final Final Post - Post -
initial final 1
/s/ /n, 7/ /l,r,w,j/ /l,m,n,7,s/ /h,n,r,j/ /s,z,t,d,8/ final 2 final 3

t
split s p l i:

scream s k r i: m

bank b ` 7 k

next n e k s t

helped h e l p
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IV. Syllable division

 extra
a. =e.kstr9
b. =ek.str9
c. =eks.tr9
d. =ekst.r9
e. =ekstr.9
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“Where two syllables are two be divided, any

consonants between them should be attached to the
right-hand syllable, not the left, as far as possible.”

Maximum Onset Syllable (MOP)

 SYLLABLE STRUCTURE

ONSET CODA

WORDS PEAK
Post- Post -
Pre-initial Initial Pre- final Final Post - Post -
initial final 1
/s/ /n, 7/ /l,r,w,j/ /l,m,n,7,s/ /h,n,r,j/ /s,z,t,d,8/ final 2 final 3

spring s p r 1 7

little l 1

tl t l
doctor

TOR
 SYLLABLE STRUCTURE

ONSET CODA

WORDS PEAK
Post- Post -
Pre-initial Initial Pre- final Final Post - Post -
initial final 1
/s/ /n, 7/ /l,r,w,j/ /l,m,n,7,s/ /h,n,r,j/ /s,z,t,d,8/ final 2 final 3

structure s t r 6 k

T 9

statistics s t 9

t 1 s

t 1 k s