Abstract
In this paper authors explain about syllable that consist Phonotactics and consonant clusters. In the final of explanation we make some conclusion about syllable.
Introduction
There are many words which speakers of a language use without ever really thinking about their meaning. Most English speakers probably thing they know what a syllable is and yet if asked to define it, might have difficulty in doing so. In the discussions of diphthongs and of the classification of approximants as consonants we stressed the important of syllables when considering the function of the sounds within a particular sound system.
The Syllable: Phonotactics and Consonant Clusters
I. Syllable
Phonetically, a syllable always contains a centre which is comparatively loud and which involves little or no obstruction to airflow.
Some terms that’s are often used to describe the syllable are PEAK for the centre, ONSET for less loud and/or more turbulent sounds preceding the peak, ad CODA for less loud and/or more turbulent sounds following the peak. The peak and coda together (if the syllable has a coda) are called the RHYME. In a syllable that has no coda, the peak is also the rhyme. A diagram commonly used to illustrate the structure of the syllable is shown in figure. Onset and coda are shown in parentheses because they are optional elements[1].
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v Structure of the syllable
Onset
The segmental structure of a syllable begins with an onset, followed by a rime or final.
Syllable: C1 (C2) V1 (V2) (C3) (C4) = onset: C1 (C2) + rime: V1 (V2) (C3) (C4).
Syllable: V1 (V2) (C3) (C4) = onset: ø (null) + rime: V1 (V2) (C3) (C4)
(C= consonant, V = Vowel, optional components are in parentheses)
Depending on the Phonotactics of a language, the onset can consist of a single consonant of a consonant cluster or be null[2].
Rime structure  |
C a t
S I ng
The simple model of syllable structure divides each syllable into on optional onset, an obligatory nucleus, and an optional coda. The illustration to the right demonstrative this model with the English words cat and sing[3].
Syllable nucleus/ peak
Example:
Word
|
Nucleus
|
Cat [kæt]
Bed [bed]
Ode [oυd]
Beet [bit]
Bite [ baIt]
Rain [reIn]
|
[æ]
[e]
[oυ]
[i]
[aI]
[eI]
|
In phonetics and phonology, the nucleus (sometimes called peak) is the central part of the syllable, most commonly a vowel. In addition to a nucleus, a syllable may begin with an onset and end with a coda, but in most languages the only part of a syllable that is mandatory is the nucleus. The nucleus and coda form the rime of the syllable[4].
Coda
In phonology, a syllable coda comprises the consonant sounds of a syllable that follow the nucleus, which is usually a vowel the combination of a nucleus and coda is called a rime. A coda is not required in syllable. Some languages Phonotactics, like that of Japanese, limit syllable codas to a small group of single consonants whereas other can have any consonants phoneme or even clusters of consonants of syllable codas[5].
There are some single-syllable words with codas: (the codas are specified in the International Phonetic Alphabet)
- An: coda = /n/ -Milk: coda = / lk/
-Tints: coda = / nts/ -Cup: coda = /p/
-Fifths: coda = / fθs/ -Tall: coda = /l/
-Sixths: coda = /ksθs/
The following single-syllable words end in a nucleus and do not have a coda:
- Glue - Though
- Boy - Pie
II. Phonotactics, the phonology of the syllable
Phonotactic (in Greek: phone = voice and tactic = course) is branch of phonology that deals with restrictions in a language on the permissible combination of phonemes. Phonotactic defines permissible syllable structure, consonant clusters, and vowel sequences by mean of phonotactical constraints. Syllables have the following internal segmental structure:
- Onset (optional)
- Rime (obligatory, comprises nucleus and coda)
- Nucleus (obligatory)
- Coda (optional)
Both onset and coda may be empty, forming a vowel-only syllable, or alternatively, the nucleus can be occupied by a syllable consonant[6].
A framework commonly used for describing English consonant clusters labels the consonant in an initial cluster as pre-initial, initial and post initial and those in final cluster as pre-final, final 1, 2, and 3.
According to this analysis, the pre-initial consist of /s/. The initial consist of plosives, fricatives and nasals. The post-initial consist of the approximants /j, w, r/ and the lateral /l/. Pre-final consonants are /m, n, η, l, s/. Any consonant can be final except /h, r, w, j/. Post-finals are /s, z, t, d, θ/. Post-finals are usually, but not always, one of the following separate morphemes (minimal units meaning):
- The plural suffix on nouns (/s/ or /z/)
- The possessives suffix on nouns (/s/ or /z/)
- The third person singular present tense suffix on verbs (/s/ or /z/)
- The past tense suffix on verbs (/t/ or /d/)
- The suffix forming an ordinal number (/θ/)
The brief account of initial and final cluster given here may suggest that some clusters are possible when in fact they are not. Initial and final cluster of two, three and (in the case of final clusters) four members are discussed separately in the following sections, with restrictions on sequences of phonemes explained in more detail.
III. Consonant Clusters
A. Initial clusters
1. Initial clusters of two members
Initial clusters in English consist of either two consonants or three. Two consonants clusters may consist of a pre-initial plus an initial, or of an initial plus a post-initial.
Two-consonant clusters beginning with pre-initial /s/ may have as initials voiceless plosives /p, t, k/, or the nasals /m, n/ for example:
/sp/ spil /sfl sphere
/st/ still /sm/ smoke
/sk/ skill /sn/ snai
/s/ may also occur with the post-initials /l, w, j/, but when it does, /s/ is analyzed as an initial. This is, of course, completely arbitrary, but the idea is that an initial cluster must always contain an initial; /s/ can be either a pre-initial or an initial. Example of /s/ as an initial plus a post-initial are:
/sl/ slow /sw/ swat
/sj/ suit
/s/ plus /r/ occurs in foreign names like Sri Lanka, but does not present occur in native English word. Of the other initials, most voiced and voiceless plosives and the voiceless fricatives /f, θ, s, ∫/ can occur with several post-initials. Examples are:
/pl/ play /tr/ trial /kl/ clue
/pr/ pray /tw/ twist /kr/ cream
/pj/ pew /tj/ tune /kw/ quick
/kj/ cure
/bl/ black /dr/ dry /gl/ glow
/br/ brick /dw/ dwell /gr/ grow
/bj/ beauty /dj/ dew /gw/ Gwen
/fl/ flat / θr/ through /sl/ sleep
/fr/ free / θw/ thwart /sw/ sweat
/fj/ few /sj/ suit
/∫r/ shrill
/∫w/ Schweppes
in addition to combinations listed above, /h, v, m, n, l/ can occur as initials with /j/ as a post-initial, but only before /u:/:
/hj/ huge /vj/ view /mj/ music
/lj/ lewd /nj/ news
2. Initial clusters of three members
Three-member initial clusters in English consist of an /s/, a voiceless plosive, and a post-initial. Examples are:
/spl/ split /str/ strip /skl/ sclerosis
/spr/ spring /stj/ stupid /skr/ scream
/spj spew /skw/ squirm
B. Final clusters
1. Final clusters of two members
In final position, clusters in English words can consist of two, three or four members. Two-member clusters can consist of a pre-final (/m, n, η, l, s/) plus a final (any consonant except /h, r, w, j/) or of a final plus a post-final (/s, z, t, d, θ/). Examples of the first type (pre-final plus final) are:
/mp/ damp /nt/ mint / ηk/ bank
/lt/ halt /sk/ desk
Notice that when the first member of the cluster is a nasal, second member tends to be HOMORGANIC (that is, produced at the same place of post-final) are:
/ts/ cats /gz/ bags /kt/ stacked
/gd/ sagged /dθ/ width
As noted earlier, the post-final consonants often make up separate morphemes but the criteria for their identity is phonological, not morphological. In some cases the post-final members of cluster are part of the root morpheme, as in tax (/ks/, where /k/ is final, /s/ post-final).
2. Final clusters of three members
Three-member clusters in final position can consist of a pre-final, a final and a post-final, or of a final and two post-finals. Examples of the first type are:
/ndz/ bands /ηkt/ ranked /lfθ/ twelfth
/lpt/ yelped
Examples of the second type are:
/fts/ lifts /kst/ boxed /pst/ lapsed
3. Final clusters of four members
Final clusters of four-member can consist of a pre-final, a final and two post-finals, or of a final and three post-finals. Examples of the first type are:
/lfθs/ twelfths /mpts/ prompts
Examples of the second type are:
/ksθs/ sixths /ksts/ texts
As you might expect, there are not very many words in most of these categories, however, some words, such as the ordinal numerals, occur fairly frequently. As these clusters are somewhat difficult to pronounce, speakers resort to simplifying strategies in rapid informal speech[7].
CONCLUSION
- Syllable have the following internal segmental structure:
- Onset (optional)
- Rime (obligatory, comprises nucleus and coda)
- Nucleus (obligatory)
- Coda (optional)
- Phonotactic is branch of phonology that deals with restrictions on the permissible combination of phonemes.
Consonant Clusters
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REFERENCES
Deterding, David H, Gloria R. Poedjosoedarmo. 1998. The Sound Of English Phonetic And Phonology For English Teachers In Southeast Asia. Singapura: Prentice Hall.
http:// en. wikipedia. org/wiki/coda
http:// en. wikipedia. org/wiki/nucleus
http:// en. wikipedia. org/wiki/onset
http:// en. wikipedia. org/wiki/phonotactics
http:// en. wikipedia. org/wiki/rime
[1] David H Deterding, Gloria R. Poedjosoedarmo, The Sound Of English Phonetic And Phonology For English Teachers In Southeast Asia, (Singapura: Prentice Hall, 1998), page 86-87.
[2] http:// en. Wikipedia. Org/wiki/onset
[3] http:// en. Wikipedia. Org/wiki/rime
[4] http:// en. Wikipedia. Org/wiki/nucleus
[5] http:// en. Wikipedia. Org/wiki/coda
[6] http:// en. Wikipedia. Org/wiki/phonotactics
[7] David H Deterding, Gloria R. Poedjosoedarmo, The Sound Of English Phonetic And Phonology For English Teachers In Southeast Asia, (Singapura: Prentice Hall, 1998), page 88-99.