Contrastive Analysis The Syllable Structure Ling Prepared by: Ms. Sahar Deknash

The Syllable Structure Definition: A syllable is a unit of sound ( phonological unit) which is composed of: a.A central obligatory nucleus (vowel) b.A marginal optional onset and coda (consonant)

The Syllable Structure Characteristics: 1.It is an uninterrupted flow of speech that can be used to make up words. 2.It is away of segmenting the stream of speech. 3.It gives a rhythm of strong and weak beats as we hear in music. 4.It exists to make speech easier for the brain to process.

The Syllable Structure 5. Every word should contain at least on syllable. The Basic Components of a Syllable: Each syllable has optional as well as obligatory parts. A syllable may have an onset. A syllable must have a rhyme (rime) that in its turn consists of an obligatory nucleus and an optional coda.

The Syllable Structure Syllable Onset Nucleus Rhyme Coda

The Syllable Structure Beginning sounds of the syllable that precede the nucleus. It is always a consonant. read flop strap win/dow to/ma/to ONSET

The Syllable Structure The rest of the syllable. It consists of a.Nucleus: the core or essential part of a syllable. Every syllable should have a nucleus. It carries high (clear) pitch level with sonority. It is always a vowel or a semi vowel. b.Coda: Optional part that follow Rhyme

The Syllable Structure How do we divide words into syllables? There are four ways to divide word into its syllables: 1.Divide between two middle consonants. hap/pen bas/ket den/nis sup/per let/ter din/ner Never split up consonant diagraphs because they represent only one sound ( th, sh, ph, ch, wh)

The Syllable Structure 2. Usually, divide before a single middle consonant. When you have a word that has one middle consonant divide before it. o/pen i/tem e/vil re/port

The Syllable Structure 3. Divide before the consonant before an –le syllable. fum/ble thi/stle mum/ble rub/ble 4. Divide any compound words, prefixes, suffixes and roots which have vowel sounds. sports/car house/boat cyper/space un/happy Pre/paid re/write hope/less teach/er

The Syllable Structure How do we find the number of syllables in a word? We have to follow these steps: 1.Count the vowels in a word. 2.Subtract any silent vowels (e in the final position, 2 nd vowel when two vowels come together) 3.Subtract one vowel from every diphthong. The number of vowel sounds left is the number of syllables.

The Syllable Structure Examples: come ( 1 syllable) outside ( 2 syllables) cake ( 1 syllable) wor/ry/ing ( 3 syllables)

THANK YOU