Page 174 - DENG504_LINGUISTICS

Linguistics

Notes Roach (200:20-1) argues that: simple syllables are of the following categories:
1. A minimum syllable would be a single vowel in isolation, e.g. the words ‘are’ (strong form) a::,
‘or’ o: , ‘err’ 3: these are preceded and followed by silence. Isolated sounds such as m, which is
some times produced to indicate agreement, or ∫ to ask for silence, must also be regarded as
syllables.
2. Some syllables have an onset (i.e., they have more than just silence preceding the centre of the
syllable (CV) e.g.:
‘bar’ ba: ‘key’ ki: ‘more’ mo:.
3. Syllables may have no onset but have a coda (VC) e.g.: ‘ æ m’ am ‘ought’ o:t ‘ease’ i:z.
4. Some syllables have onset and coda (CVC) e. g.: ‘rn’ r ∧ n ‘sat’ ‘fill’ fil(lbid.).
Cox, Harrington and Mannel (2000: 6) affirm that the open syllable has the structure CV as in ‘die’
/dai/. On the other hand, closed syllables are those which end with the ‘coda’, the most common
closed syllable has the structure (CVC) as in ‘died’ /daid/.
The different structures of the open and closed syllables are:
A- Open Syllables:
V I /ai/
CV tea /ti:/
CCV spy /spai/
CCCV spray /sprei/
B-Closed Syllables:
VC am /æm /
VCC ant /ænt/
VCCC ants /ænts/
VCCCC pre-empts /primpts/
CVC man /mæn/
CVCC band /bænd/
CVCCC bands /b æ ndz/
CVCCCC sixths /siksθ s/
CCVC brag /bræg/
CCVCC brags /bragz/
CCVCCC plants /plænts/
CCCVC spring /spring/
CCCVCC springs /springz/
CCCVCCC splints /splints/
CCCVCCCC strengths /strerykθ s/
(lbid.)
Two-syllable Words

In the case of simple two-syllable words, either the first or the second syllable will be stressed-not
both. There is a general tendency for verbs to be stressed nearer the end of a word and for nouns to be
stressed nearer the beginning. We will look first at verbs. If the final syllable is weak, then the first
syllable is stressed. Thus:
‘enter’ ‘ent ’ e ‘open’ ' up n
e
e
‘envy’ 'envi ‘equal’ 'i:kw l e

168 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY