Definition of syllable One or more letters representing a unit ofletters spoken language consisting of a single uninterrupted sound.language A syllable is made up of either a single vowel sound (as in the pronunciation of the article “a”= one) or a combination of vowel and consonant (s) The article an= one or as in no and not.vowelpronunciationconsonant A syllable that stands alone is called a monosyllable. A word containing two or more syllables is called a polysyllable.monosyllable

Consonant cluster Two, three or four consonants following each other without any vowel in between

Types of consonant cluster In initial position Cccv= stream, street, spring Ccv = scan, sky, style In final position: Fifth, heart. Wasp Vcccc= strengths( Revise pages 34-37)

Superasegmentals

Suprasegmental Phonemes  A phoneme is the smallest segment of sound that has the power to change the meaning; eg. consonants, vowels, diphthongs  In contrast with isolated phonemes, connected speech is characterized by continual modifications or alterations in stress and in intonation.  Stress, intonation and rhythm are suprasegmental phonemes.

Stress A stressed syllable in a word is generally spoken with more articulatory force, resulting in a syllable that is louder, longer in duration, and higher in pitch than an unstressed A stresssed syllable receives relative emphasis.

  suprasegmentals  Stress, intonation, pitch, rhythm  necessary for speech communication  independent of segmental features (vowels and consonants)

Words should be stressed Usually stressed (Content Words):  nouns  verbs (excluding be, have, do)  adjectives  adverbs (including not)  demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those)  interrogative pronouns (who, when, why, etc.)

Which words should be stressed?  Usually stressed (Content Words):  nouns  verbs (excluding be, have, do)  adjectives  adverbs (including not)  demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those)  interrogative pronouns (who, when, why, etc.) )

Unstressed words Usually unstressed (Function Words):  articles (a, an, the)  simple prepositions (to, of, in, etc.)  personal pronouns (I, me, he, him, it, etc.)  possessive pronouns (my, his, your, etc.)  relative pronouns (who, that, which, etc.)  conjunctions (and, but, that, as, if, etc.)  the verbs be, have  auxiliary verbs (will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, must, etc.)

Stress on first syllable ruleexample Most 2-syllable nounsPRESent, EXport, CHIna, TAble rule Example (nouns and adjectives)

Stress on the last syllable(verb)

Intonation Intonation is the tune or voice rises and falls added to words to color them with the speakers feelings. We can say a word kindly, angrily, definitely, or angrily, with or without interest. Meaning of words does not change It may change the main idea of what is said, going beyond the exact meaning of the words to indicate how the speaker feels.

Which words should be Unstressed?  Usually unstressed (Function Words):  articles (a, an, the)  simple prepositions (to, of, in, etc.)  personal pronouns (I, me, he, him, it, etc.)  possessive pronouns (my, his, your, etc.)  relative pronouns (who, that, which, etc.)  conjunctions (and, but, that, as, if, etc.)  the verbs be, have  auxiliary verbs (will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, must, etc.)

Intonation (tune)  It is the tune or voice rises and falls added to words in connected speech to color them with the speakers feelings. We can say a word kindly, angrily, definitely, or angrily, with or without interest. Meaning of words does not change It may change the main idea of what is said, going beyond the exact meaning of the words to indicate how the speaker feels.

Rhythm . a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound. Or stresses tend to recur at regular intervals.  The ‘ boy is ‘ interested in en ’ larging his vo " cabulary.  ‘ Great ‘ progress is ‘ made " daily.

Tone: the overall behavior of pitch i.e the different changes or movement the pitch can show in a syllable. Argenis A. Zapat(2009)