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Phonetics 03 Syllable

The document discusses the structure of syllables. It defines a syllable as having three parts - the onset, peak, and coda. The peak contains a vowel sound and may be preceded or followed by up to three consonant sounds in the onset and coda, respectively. It provides examples of syllable structures and analyzes the structures of example syllables.

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Nguyễn Trần Bá Toàn
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54 views3 pages

Phonetics 03 Syllable

The document discusses the structure of syllables. It defines a syllable as having three parts - the onset, peak, and coda. The peak contains a vowel sound and may be preceded or followed by up to three consonant sounds in the onset and coda, respectively. It provides examples of syllable structures and analyzes the structures of example syllables.

Uploaded by

Nguyễn Trần Bá Toàn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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4/29/2020

The Syllable
Phonetically, the syllable can be described as having a center
characterized by a relatively free airflow, before and after which there is
more obstruction to the airflow.

The center is typically realized by a vowel/diphthong, and there may or


may not be a consonant (cluster) before and/or after the vowel.

Structurally a syllable can be analyzed as follows.

Syllable

Onset
Rhyme
(0-3C)

Peak Coda
(vowel) (0-4C)

Syllable Structure

Every syllable typically contains a vowel or a diphthong as the peak.

There may or may not a consonant or consonant cluster before the peak. The
maximum number is 3. Every onset must contain an initial consonant.

No onset
One-consonant onset (INITIAL)
Two-consonant onset (INITIAL + POST-INITIAL or PRE-INITIAL + INITIAL)
Three-consonant onset (PRE-INITIAL + INITIAL + POST-INITIAL)

N.B.

The pre-initial consonant in the onset is /s/

The post-initial consonants are /l, r, w, j/

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Syllable Structure (continued)

There may or may not a consonant or consonant cluster after the peak. The
maximum number is 4. Every coda must contain a final consonant.

No coda
One-consonant coda (FINAL)
Two-consonant coda (FINAL + POST-FINAL or PRE-FINAL + FINAL)
Three-consonant coda (PRE-FINAL + FINAL + POST-FINAL or
FINAL + POST-FINALS 1 & 2)
Four-consonant coda (PRE-FINAL + FINAL + POST-FINALS 1 & 2 or
FINAL + POST-FINALS 1, 2 & 3)

N.B.

The pre-final consonants are /s, l, m, n, ŋ/

The post-final consonants are /s, z, t, d, θ /

Exercise
Analyze the structure of the following syllables.

SUITS, PLEASE, MONTHS, NEXT, STRINGS, BELT

ONSET CODA
PEAK
PRE-INITIAL INITIAL POST-INITIAl PRE-FINAL FINAL POST-FINAL

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Strong and Weak Syllables

Syllable

Strong Weak
(stressed) (unstressed)

Syllabic
Close front Close back The schwa
consonant
vowel /i/ vowel /u/ /ə/
[lͅ , mͅ , nͅ , ŋͅ , rͅ]

Key to Exercise

ONSET PEAK CODA

PRE- INITIAL POST- PRE- FINAL POST-


INITIAL INITIAL FINAL FINAL
s [J ] u: t s
s J
p l i: z
m ˄ n ɵ s
n e k st
s t r ɪ ŋ z
b e l t

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