Syllables

Question 1

What is a syllable?

Answer 1

Phonetically syllables are described as consisting of a centre which has little or no obstruction to airflow and sound comparatively loud, and before and after this centre there is a less loud sound.
Phonologically, they are possible phoneme combinations.

Question 2

Structure of onsets

Answer 2

If the first syllable of the word begins with a vowel, this initial syllable has ZERO ONSET. If the syllable begins with a consonant, that initial consonant may be any consonant.

When we have two or more consonants together, they are a CONSONANT CLUSTER. There are two types of initial two consonant clusters:

1. S + a set of consonants (sting, smoke) - the S is PRE-INITIAL and the other consonant is INITIAL.
2. Set of consonants + one of the set L, R, W, J (play, try) - The first consonant is INITIAL and the second is POST-INITIAL.

Question 3

Structure of codas

Answer 3

If there is no final consonant, there is ZERO CODA.
When there is only one consonant, it is called FINAL.

There are two types of two-consonat clusters:

1. PRE FINAL + FINAL (m, n, n, l, s)
2. FINAL + POST FINAL (s, z, t, d, )

There are two types of three consonant clusters:

1. PRE FINAL + FINAL + POST FINAL (helped)
2. FINAL + POST FINAL 1 + POST FINAL 2 (fifths)

Question 4

Maximal onsets principle

Answer 4

This principle states that where two syllables are to be divided, any consonants between them should be attached to the right-hand syllable, not the left.