UNIT FIVE 1. WHAT IS A SYLLABLE? In phonetic, a syllable is a Group of sounds that are pronounced together.

Every English word consists of one or more complete syllables. 2. Explain the structure of a syllable. First of all, if we have a look at the structural properties of syllable we observe that syllable consists of a central peak of sonority (usually a vowel), and the consonants that cluster around this central peak. The preceding consonant or consonants cluster is called the onset. For example, the b in the word bar is the onset. The consonant or consonants cluster which is following the peak (nucleus) of sonority is called the coda. For example, the rt cluster in the word art is the coda. The peak of sonority is called the nucleus. The word bar a is the nucleus. The nucleus is a vowel in most cases, although the consonants [r], [l], [m], [n], and the velar nasal (the /h/ sound) can also be the nucleus of a syllable. This chart shows the structural properties of a syllable. Parts Description Onset Initial segment of a syllable Nucleus Central segment of a syllable Coda Closing segment of a syllable

Optionality (Optional) Obligatory (Optional)

3. Mention kinds of syllables in the process of syllabification. In the process of division are shown by pacing of the following manner: And the rules for this case are: 1. All phonological words must contain at least one syllable, and hence must contain at least one vowel. 2. Sequences of repeated consonants are not possible. 3. The velar nasal /ng/ never occurs in the onset of a syllable. 4. The glottal fricative /h/ never occurs in the coda of a syllable. 5. The affricates /ts/ and /dz/, and the glottal fricative /h/ do not occur in complex onsets. 6. The first consonant in a two-consonant onset must be an obstruent (p,t,k,d,f,g). 7. The second consonant in a two-consonant onset must not be a voiced obstruent. 8. If the first consonant of a two-consonant onset is not a /s/, the second consonant must be a liquid or a glide the second consonant must be /l/, /r/, /w/, or /j/. 9. Every subsequence contained within a sequence of consonants must obey all the relevant phonotactic rules. 10. No glides in syllable codas. 11. The second consonant in a two-consonant coda cannot be /ing/, /d/, /r/, /3/.

12. If the second consonant in a complex coda is voiced, the first consonant in the coda must also be voiced. 13. When a non-alveolar nasal is in a coda together with a non-alveolar obstruent, they must have the same place of articulation, and obstruent must be a voiceless stop. 14. Two obstruents in a coda together must have the same voicing.

[en.t .pra z