Syllable
Rehma Ajmal
OUTLINE
Syllable
Structure of Syllable
Types of Syllable
WHAT IS A SYLLABLE?
A unit of pronunciation
having one vowel sound,
with or without EXAMPLES
surrounding consonants,
forming the whole or a
part of a word.
THE NATURE OF THE SYLLABLE
“consisting of a centre which has little or no obstruction to airflow
and which sounds comparatively loud; before and after the centre,
there will be greater obstruction to airflow and/or less loud sound”
(Roach, 2009:56)
It means, a syllable has a loud and clear vowel sound (nucleus) in
the middle, with quieter consonants before and/ or after it that
partially block the airflow.
COUNT THE SYLLABLES
Many English words have 2,3,4 or more
syllables;
2 syllables- abstract, hungry, college,
3 syllables-beautiful, employee,
astronaut
? syllables- adorable, calculator, Syllabification:
The division of words
anybody into syllables
? syllables- university, unbelievable
? - reconsideration, revolutionary Multisyllabic:
Having more than
3 syllables
COUNT THE SYLLABLES
Easy Tricks supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
1. Say the word slowly /ˌsuːpəkalɪˌfradʒɪlɪstɪkˌɛkspɪalɪˈdəʊʃəs/
🤖
like a robot
adjective, Informal
2. Put your hand under
🖐️
your chin extraordinarily good; wonderful.
3. Count the vowel
sounds🔤 How many syllables?
COUNT THE SYLLABLES
supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
/ˌsuːpəkalɪˌfradʒɪlɪstɪkˌɛkspɪalɪˈdəʊʃəs/
Syllables:
Su -per -ca -li -fra -gi -lis -tic -ex -pi -a -li -do -cious
STRUCTURE OF A SYLLABLE
A syllable generally has three parts:
1. Onset
The onset (optional) are consonant/s, that
appear at the beginning of a syllable. Not
all syllables have an onset.
Examples:
Cat /kæt/ (C = Consonant)
Play /pleɪ/ (Pl = 2 Consonant onset or
consonant cluster)
but in ‘eye’ there is no onset. This is called
empty or zero onset.
STRUCTURE OF A SYLLABLE
2. Nucleus (Peak)
The nucleus (obligatory) forms the core
of the syllable; it is most often a vowel.
Examples:
Cat /kæt/ (a = Vowel)
or a diphthong
Play /pleɪ/ (ay = Vowel)
or a triphthong
hour /aʊər/
STRUCTURE OF A SYLLABLE
3. Coda
The coda (optional) are consonant/s, that
appear at the end of a syllable.
Examples:
Cat (t = Coda)
Plant (nt = Consonant cluster)
SYLLABLE STRUCTURE
Syllable structure is represented
graphically by means of a “tree
diagram”
In phonology, σ (lowercase sigma) is
used to represent syllables.
The rhyme or rime of a syllable
consists of a nucleus and an optional
coda.
SYLLABLE STRUCTURE FOR σ
MONOSYLLABIC WORDS
1. For the word “bed”
2. First transcribe the word -
/bed/
onset rhyme
3. Next draw the syllable tree
4. Find the nucleus - /ɛ/ (always
a vowel or diphthong) nucleus coda
5. Then the onset - /b/ (optional)
(if there is none, write Ø)
6. Followed by the coda /d/
b ɛ d
(optional).
SYLLABLE STRUCTURE FOR MULTISYLLABIC WORDS
Remember:
1. Transcribe the words first.
word
2. Divide the word into syllables.
3. Next, find the nucleus for
each syllables.
4. Then find the onset and coda. syllable syllable
SYLLABLE STRUCTURE FOR ‘PUMPKIN’
word
σ σ
onset rhyme onset rhyme
nucleus coda nucleus coda
p ʌ m p k ɪ n
SIX TYPES OF SYLLABLES
Closed Syllable (VC)
A syllable which ends with a
consonant and the vowel
has a short sound.
bat plant rabbit
OPEN SYLLABLE (V)
A syllable which ends with a
vowel and the vowel has a
long sound.
go me you tiger
SILENT E SYLLABLE (V C E)
A syllable which has long
vowel-consonant-silent e
pattern.
cake scene bone
R-CONTROLLED SYLLABLE
A syllable which has a
vowel followed by "r" (ar,
er, ir, or, ur)
car bird shark
VOWEL TEAM SYLLABLE (V V)
A syllable which has two
vowels making one sound.
boat snail beach
CONSONANT + LE (C-LE)
A syllable which ends with a
consonant and "le".
Used at the end of words
E is silent
turtle circle middle
THANK YOU
