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Unit 7- SYLLABLE &

SYLLABIFICATION

International phonetic alphabet (IPA)

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SYLLABLE

A syllable is a unit of spoken

message that is larger than a
single sound and usually
smaller than a word.

Sing /sɪŋ/
Lady /ˈleɪdi/

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One syllable
Sing /sɪŋ/
Lady /ˈleɪdi/
Two syllables

PHONETIC GROUNDS
Syllables consist “a centre which has little or
no obstruction to airflow and which sounds
comparatively loud; before and after that
centre (…) there will be greater obstruction to
airflow and/or less loud sound”
(Roach, 2000: 70)

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PHONETIC GROUNDS
Syllables consist “a centre which has little or
no obstruction to airflow and which sounds
comparatively loud; before and after that
centre (…) there will be greater obstruction to
airflow and/or less loud sound”
(Roach, 2000: 70)

E.g. cat /kæt/

 The “centre”: the vowel /æ/
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PHONOLOGICAL GROUNDS
• The syllable is “a complex unit
made up of nuclear and marginal
elements”. Laver (1994: 114)
• Nuclear elements are the vowels or
syllabic segments
• Marginal elements are the
consonants.

The word paint /peɪnt/

 ……………….is the nuclear

element
 ………………..are marginal
elements.

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The word paint /peɪnt/

 The diphthong /eɪ/ is the

nuclear element
 The initial consonant /p/ and
the final cluster /nt/ are
marginal elements.

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Syllable
Phonetic view Phonological view
A syllable contains a centre
The phonological syllable is a
which has little or no
obstruction to airflow and
complex unit made up of
which sounds nuclear and marginal
comparatively loud; before elements.
and after that centre (…) Nuclear elements are the
there will be greater vowels or syllabic segments;
obstruction to airflow Marginal elements are the
and/or less loud sound” consonants or non-syllabic
segments.
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Sing /sɪŋ/ One syllable

Lady /ˈleɪdi/ Two syllables

Extra /ekstrǝ/ ?
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‘extra’ /ekstrǝ/
1. /e-kstrǝ/
2. /ek-strǝ/
3. /eks-trǝ/
4. /ekst-rǝ/
5. /ekstr- ǝ/
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SYLLABLE STRUCTURE

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cat

/k/ /æ / /t/
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Syllable structure is language specific

(Katamba,1989:155).

Parts Description Optionality

Onset Initial segment of a syllable Optional

Rhyme ……….. ………..

Nucleus ……….. ………..

Coda ……….. ………..

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Syllable structure is language specific

(Katamba,1989:155).

Parts Description Optionality

Onset Initial segment of a syllable Optional

Rhyme Core of a syllable, consisting of a

nucleus and coda

Nucleus Central segment of a syllable Obligatory

Coda Closing segment of a syllable Optional

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Syllable structure is language specific

(Katamba,1989:155).

Parts Description Optionality

Onset Initial segment of a syllable Optional

Rhyme Core of a syllable, consisting of a

nucleus and coda

Nucleus Central segment of a syllable Obligatory

(a, an, no)
Coda Closing segment of a syllable Optional
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skin

/sk/ /ɪ / /n/
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Onset Nucleus Coda

(peak)

sea

on

eye

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Onset Nucleus Coda

(peak)

sea /si:/ /s/ /i:/

on /ɒn/ /ɒ/ /n/

eye /aɪ/ /aɪ/

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More rules about Onset and Coda

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The structure of the ONSET

• The maximum number of consonants within the
onset is three (There can’t be more than 3
consonants at the beginning of a syllable)
ONSET: (pre-initial) - (initial) - (post-initial)
• The first consonant in the onset is called pre-
initial; the pre-initial consonant is always /s/.
• The second consonant in the onset is called
initial; this can basically be any English consonant
except /ŋ/
• The third consonant in the onset is called post-
initial; Only 4 following consonants can be post-
intial: /l/, /r/, /w/ and /j/

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The structure of the ONSET

• The first consonant in the onset is called pre-
initial; the pre-initial consonant is always /s/.
• The second consonant in the onset is called
initial; this can basically be any English
consonant except /ŋ/
• The third consonant in the onset is called
post-initial; Only 4 following consonants can
be post-intial: /l/, /r/, /w/ and /j/

Pre-initial Initial Post-initial

spring s p r
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The structure of the ONSET

• The first consonant in the onset is called pre-
initial; the pre-initial consonant is always /s/.
• The second consonant in the onset is called
initial; this can basically be any English
consonant except /ŋ/
• The third consonant in the onset is called
post-initial; Only 4 following consonants can
be post-intial: /l/, /r/, /w/ and /j/

Pre-initial Initial Post-initial

twelve t w 26

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The structure of the ONSET

• The first consonant in the onset is called pre-
initial; the pre-initial consonant is always /s/.
• The second consonant in the onset is called
initial; this can basically be any English
consonant except /ŋ/
• The third consonant in the onset is called
post-initial; Only 4 following consonants can
be post-intial: /l/, /r/, /w/ and /j/

Pre-initial Initial Post-initial

fifth f 27

The structure of the ONSET

• The first consonant in the onset is called pre-
initial; the pre-initial consonant is always /s/.
• The second consonant in the onset is called
initial; this can basically be any English
consonant except /ŋ/
• The third consonant in the onset is called
post-initial; Only 4 following consonants can
be post-intial: /l/, /r/, /w/ and /j/

Pre-initial Initial Post-initial

speak s p
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NOTE
Some combinations of
consonants are not found in
English: sʒw, mr, hl, vw

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The structure of the CODA

• The maximum number of the consonants within
the coda part is four.
CODA: (pre-final) - (final) - (post-final)
• Pre-final consonants can only be one of the
followings: /s/, /m/, /l/ /n/, /ŋ/
• Final consonants can be basically any English
consonant except /h/, /w/, /r/* /j/
• Post-final consonants can only be one of the
followings: /s/, /z/, /t/, /d/, /θ/.

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• There are two types of final two-

consonant clusters:
Pre-final + final (E.g. bank /bæŋk/)
Final + Post-final (E.g. bags /bæɡz/)

Analyze the coda structure of the following

word

Pre-final Final post-final

Fifth f θ
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• There are two types of final two-

consonant clusters:
Pre-final + final (E.g. bank /bæŋk/)
Final + Post-final (E.g. bags /bæɡz/)

Analyze the coda structure of the following

word

Pre-final Final post-final

Speaks k s
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• There are two types of final

three-consonant clusters:
Pre-final + final + post-final
(E.g. helped /helpt/)
Final + post final 1+ post final 2
(E.g. lapsed /læpst/)
Pre-final Final post-final
Next k s, t
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• There are two types of final

three-consonant clusters:
Pre-final + final + post-final
(E.g. helped /helpt/)
Final + post final 1+ post final 2
(E.g. lapsed /læpst/)
Pre-final Final post-final
fifths f θ, s
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• There are two types of final

three-consonant clusters:
Pre-final + final + post-final
(E.g. helped /helpt/)
Final + post final 1+ post final 2
(E.g. lapsed /læpst/)
Pre-final Final post-final
Faults l t s
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• Most final four-consonant clusters have

the following structure:
Pre-final + Final + post-final 1+ post
final 2
Final + Post final 1 + Post final 2 + Post
final 3

Pre-final Final post-final

twelfths l f θ, s

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• Most final four-consonant clusters have

the following structure:
Pre-final + Final + post-final 1+ post
final 2+ post-final 3
Final + Post final 1 + Post final 2 + Post
final 3

Pre-final Final post-final

prompts m p t, s

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The structure of the ONSET

• The maximum number of consonants within the

onset is three:
• The pre-initial consonant is always /s/.
• The initial can basically be any English consonant.
• Only 4 following consonants can be post-intial:
/l/, /r/, /w/ and /j/
• Some combinations of consonants are not found
in English: sʒw, mr, hl, vw, dl…

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The structure of the CODA

• The maximum number of the consonants within
the coda part is four.
CODA: (pre-final) - (final) - (post-final)
• Pre-final consonants can only be one of the
followings: /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /l/, /s/
• Final consonants can be basically any English
consonant except /h/, /r/, /w/, /j/
• Post-final consonants can only be one of the
followings: /s/, /z/, /t/, /d/, /θ/.

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SYLLABICATION
(syllable division)
Syllabification or syllabication is
the separation of a word into
syllables, whether spoken or
written.

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‘extra’ /ekstrǝ/
1. /e-kstrǝ/
2. /ek-strǝ/
3. /eks-trǝ/
4. /ekst-rǝ/
5. /ekstr- ǝ/

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‘extra’ /ekstrǝ/
1. /e-kstrǝ/
2. /ek-strǝ/  The maximum
number of
3. /eks-trǝ/ consonants in the
3. /ekst-rǝ/ onset is 3.
 The maximum
4. /ekstr- ǝ/ number of
consonants in the
coda is four.

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‘extra’ /ekstrǝ/
1. /e-kstrǝ/
2. /ek-strǝ/  The maximum
number of
3. /eks-trǝ/ consonants in the
4. /ekst-rǝ/ onset is 3.
 The maximum
5. /ekstr- ǝ/ number of
consonants in the
coda is four.

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‘extra’ /ekstrǝ/
1. /e-kstrǝ/
2. /ek-strǝ/
3. /eks-trǝ/  /r/ cannot be the
4. /ekst-rǝ/ post-final
consonant
5. /ekstr- ǝ/

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MAXIMAL ONSETS PRINCIPLE

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 as far as possible within the
restrictions governing syllable onsets and codas.

Ready /ˈredi/  /ˈre-di/

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MAXIMAL ONSETS PRINCIPLE

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 as far as possible within the
restrictions governing syllable onsets and codas.
1. /e-kstrǝ/
The highest
2. /ek-strǝ/
3. /eks-trǝ/ number of
4. /ekst-rǝ/ consonants in
5. /ekstr- ǝ/ the onset (3) 46

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Practice

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Divide the following words into syllables, and

explain the basis on which the syllabication is
made.

Expansion

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Expansion /ɪkspænʃn/

/ɪk-spæn-ʃn/

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Singing / sɪŋɪŋ/

/ sɪŋ-ɪŋ/

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Divide the following words into syllables, and

explain the basis on which the syllabication is
made.

• Hanger
• Driver
• Living

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Divide the following words into syllables, and

explain the basis on which the syllabication is
made.
• Hanger /hæŋər/
• Driver /draɪvə/
• Living /lɪvɪŋ/*

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Divide the following words into syllables, and

explain the basis on which the syllabication is
made.

• Hanger /hæŋ-ər/
• Driver /draɪ-və/
• Living /lɪv-ɪŋ/*

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Note
Stressed syllables usually have codas
when the vowel is short.
E.g. callous /ˈkæl-əs/

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CLOSED AND OPEN

SYLLABLES
• Closed syllables end in a consonant
e.g. cat /kæt/, it /ɪt/, eat /i:t/
• Open syllables end in a vowel
e.g. sea /si:/ or eye /aɪ/

 In terms of syllable structure, in closed

syllables the Coda is present, while in open
ones the Coda element is absent.

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Heavy AND Light SYLLABLES

• Syllables are heavy when the rhyme
contains:
(1) a long vowel or a diphthong as in “tea”
(2) a short vowel followed by one or more
consonants as in “ten”.
• Light syllables are those with rhymes
containing a short vowel alone
without a coda.
E.g. forget /fəˈɡet/
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Which of these are permissible syllables in

English? Explain why.
1. sprɑ:θs 7. drɑ:w
2. vwɑ:ks 8. frɑ:lts
3. gwɑ:mz 9. skwɑ:ksθs
4. krɑ:h 10. trɑ:vz
5. ŋɑ:s 11. dlɑ:mg
6. knɑ:j 12. ʒrɑ:nk

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• sprɑ:θs: Permissible.
• vwɑ:ks : Not permissible (vw does not
occur in onset clusters).
• gwɑ:mz: Permissible.

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FURTHER NOTE

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