LinguisticsLesson 4 of 5 in the course Phonology

Syllable Structure, Weight, and Syllabification

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

A syllable is a basic way of organizing speech sounds inside words. Recognizing syllables helps us describe pronunciation, word rhythm, stress, and the structure of written and spoken language.

A syllable is a unit of organization within a sequence of speech sounds. Syllables are often described as the building blocks of words. Spoken words can usually be divided into a whole number of syllables. For example, ignite is commonly divided into two syllables: ig-nite.

All flashcards

What is phonotactics?
The language-specific rules governing which sound sequences are permitted.
What is a syllabic consonant?
A consonant that serves as the nucleus, or peak, of a syllable.
What does heterosyllabic mean?
Describes sounds that belong to different syllables.
What is a superheavy syllable?
A syllable classified as heavier than a heavy syllable in some languages.
What is the penult?
The next-to-last syllable of a word.

Quiz questions

  1. In syllable analysis, what does the rime consist of?Answer: The nucleus and any coda.
  2. What makes a syllable closed?Answer: It has a coda after its nucleus.
  3. What does quantitative meter count in classical poetry?Answer: Syllable weight.
  4. In many descriptions of Chinese syllables, what can the final include?Answer: The medial, nucleus, and any final consonant.
  5. In IPA transcription, what can the tie bar ⟨‿⟩ indicate?Answer: Sounds linked across a word boundary.

Based on the Wikipedia article Syllable, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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