Week 8 Syllables.pptx

Syllable, credit to UKM

1. SKBE1013 ORAL COMMUNICATION Semester 1 2023/24

2. Syllable Definition The structure of a Syllable: Onset, Rhyme, Peak and Coda

3. Defining Syllable When we say a word, the sounds we create naturally divide the word into parts. For example: The word “machine” has two parts: ma-chine. The word “important” has three parts: im-por-tant. We call these parts “syllables. the process of dividing words into syllables = Syllabification

4. A syllable is a part of a word that is composed of one or more speech sounds e.g are /a:/ or guard / ɡɑːd / A syllable must contain a vowel or vowel-like sound, including diphthongs e.g. guard / ɡɑːd / or bye / baɪ / “consists of a centre which has little or no obstruction to the airflow and which sounds comparatively loud; before and after this centre , there will be greater obstruction to the airflow and/or less sound” (Roach, 2009:56) What is a syllable?

5. Every English word consists of at least 1 syllable e.g. ‘cat’ / kæt /, ‘dog’ / dɒg / Many English words have 2,3,4 or more syllables; 2 syllables - mother, limit, heaven 3 syllables - photograph, limited, heavenly ? syllables - photographer, dictionary, anybody ? syllables – unbelievable, university, organization ? - reconsideration, revolutionary

6. supercalifragilisticexpialidocious /ˌ suːpəkalɪfradʒɪlɪstɪkˌɛkspɪalɪˈdəʊʃəs / Adjective informal extraordinarily good; wonderful. How many syllables? https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/

7. A syllable can have as many as three parts:  onset, nucleus , and  coda . The nucleus (obligatory) forms the core of the syllable; it is most often a vowel e.g. ‘far’ / f ɑ :/ ; or a diphthong e.g. ‘bye’ / b aɪ / . The onset (optional) are consonant/s, that appear at the beginning of a syllable e.g. ‘bar’ / b a :/ the coda (optional) are consonant/s, that appear the end of a syllable e.g. ‘am’ / æ m / , bark / bɑː k / Syllable Structure

8. 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. C V C

9. Syllable Structure For the word “bed” first transcribe the word - /bed/ Next draw the syllable tree Find the nucleus - / e / ( always a vowel or diphthong ) then the onset - /b/ ( optional ) (if there is none, write ∅) followed by the coda /d/ ( optional ).

10. Try this… Another example of a monosyllabic word ‘pain’ transcribe =  / peɪn / Next draw the syllable tree identify the nucleus then the onset and coda

11. Syllable Structure Minimum unit of a syllable = Nucleus (without onset or coda) E.g. ‘ are ’ / ɑ :/ ‘ or ’ / ɔ :/ ‘ err ’ /3:/ The most common syllable structures in human languages are CV e.g. bar / bɑ ː/ CVC e.g. bat / bæt /

12. Let’s Practice ! Draw syllable tree diagram for these monosyllabic words Fin Sun Charm Nice Buzz Remember: Transcribe the word first. Next, find the nucleus. Then the onset and coda.

13. What about multisyllabic words? Funny / fʌni / Pumpkin / pʌmpkɪn / Consistent / kənsɪstənt /

14. Syllable Structure for ‘ pumpkin ’

15. Let’s Practice ! Draw syllable tree diagram for these bisyllabic words secret mother trumpet Remember: Transcribe the words first. Divide the word into syllables. Next, find the nucleus for each syllable. Then the onset and coda.

16. Let’s Practice ! Draw syllable tree diagram for these multisyllabic words bananas company holiday Remember: Transcribe the words first. Divide the word into syllables. Next, find the nucleus for each syllable. Then the onset and coda.

17. NUCLEUS The core of a syllable Normally , a VOWEL (or dipthong or tripthong ), e.g. ‘am’ [ æ m ] , bark [ b ɑː k ] bye [ b aɪ ] fire [ˈ f aɪə ] also possible for a consonant to act as a nucleus in English language e.g. syllabic consonant i.e. l̩ , r̩ , m̩, n̩ or ŋ , indicated by a small vertical mark ( ̩ ) beneath the symbol A syllabic consonant normally replaces the vowel [ ə ] and forms a syllable on its own E.g.  prison / prɪ zṇ / or cattle / kaet l ̩ / 2 syllables / pr ɪ / and / z n ̩ / / kae / and / t l ̩ / syllabic nasal / n̩ / syllabic alveolar lateral /l̩/

18. ONSET Consonant/s at the beginning of a syllable If syllable starts with a vowel [ æ m ] = zero onset ∅ If begins with one consonant = initial - can be any consonant except / ŋ / and / ʒ / (rare) ‘ought’ / ɔːt / = ∅ onset saw - / sɔ ː   / = initial consonant 2-consonant onset e.g. sport / sp ɔːt /,   stuck / st ʌk / play / pleɪ /, clear / klɪə /, muse / mjuːz / 3-consonant onset e.g. strike / straɪk / , scream / skriːm /, squeak / skwiːk /

19. Let’s Practice ! Draw syllable tree diagram for these words with 2 and 3 consonants onset Blot Play Squeeze Remember: Transcribe the words first. Divide the word into syllables. Next, find the nucleus for each syllable. Then the onset and coda.

20. Coda - Final part Up to 4 consonants No final consonant e.g. [ ba :] = ∅ coda One consonant e.g. [ ɑː t ] = final consonant Any consonant may be a final except /h/ /r/ /w/ /j/ 2-consonant coda e.g. bump  / bʌ mp /, bank / bæ ŋk / 3-consonant coda e.g. bumps / bʌ mps /, bank / bæ ŋks / banked / bæ ŋkt /,   lapsed / læ pst / 4 consonants e.g. twelfths / twe lf θ s / prompts / prɒ mpts  /

21. Let’s Practice ! Draw syllable tree diagram for the words with 2, 3, 4 consonants coda fast shrimps prompts Remember: Transcribe the words first. Next, find the nucleus for each syllable. Then the onset and coda.

22. Homework: Syllable structure Draw syllable tree diagram for the following words Gray Sphinx Define Dictionary Reference Entertain Post your syllable diagrams in the homework folder in Teams Class notebook.