Functional characteristics of syllables

To be hyphenated

Expiration – выдох

Expiratory – выдыхательный

Utterance – высказывание

Boundary – граница

Boarder line – на границе

To coincide – совпадать

Approach – подход

Properties – свойства

Peak – вершина

Prominence – выделение

Inherent – врожденный

Sonorant – сонорный согласный

'Sonorous – звонкий

To decrease – уменьшать

The syllable is not a simple concept. It’s a complicated phenomenon, because no phoneticians have succeeded so far in giving an exhaustive explanation of what the syllable is. The problem of the syllable is still an open question in Phonetics.

The syllable as a unit is difficult to define. The difficulties seem to arise from the way different linguists treat (трактуют) this phenomenon. There exist many points of view:

1) Some linguists consider the syllable to be a purely articulatory unit which lacks functional value. This point of view is defended on the grounds (на том основании) that the boundaries of the syllable denote always coincide with those of the morphemes.

2) But the majority - treat it as the smallest pronounceable unit which can be reveal (раскрывать) some linguistic functions.

3) The syllable is one or more speech sounds forming a single uninterrupted unit of utterance which may be a word or a subdivision of a word. It can be a part of a grammatical form. (lat-er)

Normally the syllable can be analyzed from the acoustic and the auditory, articulatory and functional points of view. It can be treated in terms of its graphic representation. Acoustically and auditory is characterized by the force of utterance (accent), pitch of the voice, sonority and length. From the auditory point of view it’s the smallest unit of perception. The articulatory energy which constitutes the syllables results from the combined action of the power, vibration, resonator and obstructer mechanisms.

Phonologically it’s regarded and defined in terms of its functional properties. In English the syllable can be phones by a “V”, by a “V” and a “C”, also by “CS”. There is a differentiation of types of syllabic structures. The peak (crest) of the syllable is formed by a “V” or a “S” (sonorant). The “C” which precede the peak and follow it are called slopes.

Russian types:

1) V-type (fully open)

2) CVC -type (fully closed)

3) CV-type ((initially covered)

4) VC-type (finally covered)

Vowels [Q, e, Ã, a, ,  ] & [ei, ai, aU, E«,  i] constitute the peak prominence (teacher, city) [«, I, U] occur as a rule in unaccented syllable.

[N] never begins the syllable

[w] never terminates the syllable

[w, r, j] – the sonorant’s function as consonants because they occur only before vowels (with, yes, write…)

The patterns of syllables formed by “S” with a preceding consonant (CS-types) are similar to VC-type. Actually syllable forming sonorant in the combination of the CS-type are terminal [m, n, l]

People \Able \Taken \Written \Eagle \Fortune \Often \Listen \Season

Russian terminal “ S ” do not form syllables with consonants which precede them. However, in special cases they may become syllabic. (for the purpose of rhythm in poetry)