Syllables Phonotactics

Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and Phonotactics
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary Readings
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
The following readings have been posted to the Moodle

course site:
I
Contemporary Linguistics: Chapter 3 (pp. 77-84)
Syllables by Kyle Johnson
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
A Review of Where We Are

The Fundamental Question (for Linguists):
What is the system of rules and mental representations
that underlies out ability to speak and understand a
human language?
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Last Unit: IPA

Notation that unambiguously represents the phones
of all human languages.
This Unit: Phonology
Rules that operate over those representations, and
thereby affect how words are pronounced.
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Some Quick IPA Practice
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
First, lets practice reading some IPA:
Syllables and
Phonotactics
[maj b2lowni hz @ f1st nejm Its ow Es si ej A]
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
First, lets practice reading some IPA:
Syllables and
Phonotactics
[maj b2lowni hz @ f1st nejm Its ow Es si ej A]
Syllabic
Consonants
(My bologna has a first name, its O-S-C-A-R)
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Heres another one:
Syllables and
Phonotactics
[mInti plEZ1z Inklud pEptow bIzmAl ]
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Heres another one:
Syllables and
Phonotactics
[mInti plEZ1z Inklud pEptow bIzmAl ]
Syllabic
Consonants
(Minty pleasures include Pepto Bismol)
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Towards Phonology
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
IPA transcription represents some of our knowledge of

how a word is pronounced:
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Phones making up the word
Sequence in which those phones are produced
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
However, there is more to a words pronunciation than

just this...
I
There are also general rules governing English

pronunciation.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Introducing Syllables
Supplementary
Readings
Key Example
When we pronounce understanding, we dont pronounce
(or perceive) it as a simple string of sounds...
I
Rather, the phones are grouped together into beats
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
These beats making up the word give it a rhythm
Syllabic
Consonants
These beats and rhythm come out naturally when

we speak words slowly
Onsets Over
Codas
I
I
I
[2n . d1 . stn . diN]

[pEp . tow . bIz . mAl]
[b2 . low . ni]
understanding
Pepto Bismol
Bologna
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Vocabulary:
These beats making up the sound-structure of the word
are called syllables.
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Vocabulary:
Key Fact:
For most English words, speakers only accept one way of
breaking it up into syllables
I
I
[2n . d1 . stn . diN]

[b2 . low . ni]
*[2 . nd1s . tnd . iN]

*[pEpt . ow . bIzm . Al]
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
*[b2l . own . i]
Supplementary
Readings
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Vocabulary:
Key Fact:
For most English words, speakers only accept one way of
breaking it up into syllables
I
I
[2n . d1 . stn . diN]

[b2 . low . ni]
*[2 . nd1s . tnd . iN]

*[pEpt . ow . bIzm . Al]
So, this information is represented in our brains in some

way.
.
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Onsets Over
Codas
*[b2l . own . i]
Introduction and
IPA Practice
Syllabic
Consonants
Conclusion:
Part of knowing English is knowing how to divide words
into syllables
I
Supplementary
Readings
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Towards Syllabification
Supplementary
Readings
Question:
How is this information represented in our brains?
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Question:
How is this information represented in our brains?
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Wrong Hypothesis:
Maybe we just memorize it on a word-by-word basis?
I
Syllables and
Phonotactics
When we learn a word like bologna, we learn:

I The phones that compose it: [b2lowni]
I The words syllabification: [b2 . low . ni]
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Vocabulary:
The way that a word is broken down into syllables is
called syllabification.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Wrong Hypothesis:
Supplementary
Readings
The syllabification of word is memorized on a case-by-case

basis.
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Wrong Hypothesis:
Supplementary
Readings

basis.
Introduction and
IPA Practice
Problem for This Hypothesis:

English speakers know how to syllabify words theyve never
heard spoken before.
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Example:
Syllabic
Consonants
Read the following word to yourself silently: badartogly
Say the word to yourself slowly, breaking it into syllables...
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Wrong Hypothesis:
Supplementary
Readings

basis.
Introduction and
IPA Practice
Problem for This Hypothesis:

English speakers know how to syllabify words theyve never
heard spoken before.
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Example:
Syllabic
Consonants
Read the following word to yourself silently: badartogly
Say the word to yourself slowly, breaking it into syllables...
I would bet that you syllabified it as follows:

I
[ b . dA . tA . gli ]
I would bet that you didnt syllabify it this way:

I
[ bd . At . Ag . li ]
.
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Conclusion:
Since youd never heard badartogly before, your
syllabification couldnt have been memorized...
I
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
So the Wrong Hypothesis is wrong...
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Conclusion:
I
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Right Hypothesis:
English syllabification is based on a general rule.
I
This rule tells you how to syllabify any imaginable word of

English.
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Conclusion:
I
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Right Hypothesis:
I

English.
Vocabulary:
Phonology = the study of the general rules that govern
how words are pronounced in a language.
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Conclusion:
I
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Right Hypothesis:
I

English.
Vocabulary:
Phonology = the study of the general rules that govern
how words are pronounced in a language.
The Burning Question:
What are the rules for syllabifying a word of English?
.
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Before we can state the rule, we need to talk a bit more

about the internal structure of syllables...
The Structure of Syllables

Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics

I
Supplementary
Readings
Every syllable is made up of (at most) three parts:

I
Onset: the consonants that begin the syllable
Nucleus: the sound in the middle of the syllable

(usually a vowel)
Coda: the consonants the end the syllable
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Syllables can differ in size:
Onsets Over
Codas
Some syllables do not have onsets (e.g. [it])
Some syllables do not have codas (e.g. [ti])
But, every syllable has a nucleus
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Here are some syllables, broken down into their parts:
Introduction and
IPA Practice
Syllable
[bn]
[bi]
[n]
[stnd]
[plNk]
[bOj]
[spej]
[aj]
Onset
[b]
[b]
NONE
[st]
[pl]
[b]
[sp]
NONE
Nucleus
[]
[i]
[]
[]
[]
[Oj]
[ej]
[aj]
Coda
[n]
NONE
[n]
[nd]
[Nk]
NONE
NONE
NONE
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Note:
Both parts of a diphthong count as being in the nucleus
of the syllable.
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Towards Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Key Fact:
Not every sequence of phones is a possible onset or
coda in English.
I
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Consider the following sequences of phones:

I [mba . ka]
I [Na . to]
I [tsA]
I [nuk]
I [tg . nIsp]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Which one sounds most like an English word?
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Key Fact:
Not every sequence of phones is a possible onset or
coda in English.
I
I
I
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Consider the following sequences of phones:

I [mba . ka]
I [Na . to]
I [tsA]
I [nuk]
I [tg . nIsp]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Which one sounds most like an English word?

You probably said [tg . nIsp]
I After all, its the only one that English speakers can
easily pronounce.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
But why dont those other words sound like English?
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
I [mba . ka]
I
I
I
Supplementary
Readings
The first syllable starts with [mb]

No English word or syllable can start with [mb]
The sequence [mb] is not a possible onset
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
I [mba . ka]
I
I
I
Supplementary
Readings

Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
[Na . to]
I
I
I
The first syllable starts with [N]

No English word or syllable can start with [N]
The sequence [N] is not a possible onset

Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
I [mba . ka]
I
I
I

Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
[Na . to]
I
I
I
Supplementary
Readings


Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
[tsA]
I
I
I
Onsets Over
Codas
The first syllable starts with [ts]

No English word or syllable can start with [ts]
The sequence [ts] is not a possible onset
Syllables and
Phonotactics
I [mba . ka]
I
I
I
I
I
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics


Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
[tsA]
I
I
I

[Na . to]
I
Supplementary
Readings
Onsets Over
Codas
The first syllable starts with [ts]

No English word or syllable can start with [ts]
The sequence [ts] is not a possible onset
[nuk]
I
I
I
The first syllable ends with [k]

No English word or syllable can end with [k]
The sequence [k] is not a possible coda
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Phonotactic Constraints
Vocabulary:
The rules that determine the possible onsets or codas are
called phonotactics constraints (a.k.a phonotactics).
I
phono = sounds ; tactic = arrangement

(how the sounds can be arranged)
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Phonotactic Constraints
Vocabulary:
The rules that determine the possible onsets or codas are
called phonotactics constraints (a.k.a phonotactics).
I
phono = sounds ; tactic = arrangement

(how the sounds can be arranged)
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
In Dholuo, [mb] and [N] are possible onsets:

I [mba . ka] = story
I [Na . to] = person
In Tlingit, [ts] is a possible onset, and [k] a possible

coda:
I [tsA] = seal
I [nuk] = to do
.
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Key Fact:
Different languages have different phonotactic
constraints.
Supplementary
Readings
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Phonotactics and Syllabification
Supplementary
Readings
Fun Fact:
Phonotactic constraints play a major role in syllabification.
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Whats wrong with: *[2 . nd1s . tnd . iN]
Phonotactics
[nd] is not a possible onset of English

(No word of English begins with [nd])
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Why not this: *[pEpt . ow . bIzm . Al]

I
[zm] is not a possible coda of English

(No word of English ends in [zm]])
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Toward the Syllabification Rule
Supplementary
Readings
But, phonotactic constraints dont explain everything...

I
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Why dont we syllabify like this: *[b2l . own . i]

I
Syllables and
Phonotactics
This syllabification is totally consistent with English

phonotactics.
I
I
I

Phonotactics
[b2l] is a possible English syllable

[own] is a possible English syllable
[i] is a possible English syllable
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
The answer will come from a concrete rule

(algorithm) for syllabifying an English word...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Syllabification Algorithm
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
There are four main steps to the syllabification rule

(syllabification procedure, syllabification algorithm)
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
We will illustrate each step with our made-up words

[bdAtAgli] and [tgnIsp].
Step 3: Label Codas

Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 1: Label the Nuclei
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
Every syllable has a nucleus.
Key Fact: All vowels serve as syllabic nuclei.

So, Step One of our syllabification procedure is:
I Identify all the vowels in the word, and...
I Label those vowels as nuclei (N)
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
b d A t A g l i
t g n I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 1: Label the Nuclei
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
Every syllable has a nucleus.
Key Fact: All vowels serve as syllabic nuclei.

So, Step One of our syllabification procedure is:
I Identify all the vowels in the word, and...
I Label those vowels as nuclei (N)
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
b d A t A g l i
t g n I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 2: Label the Onsets
Supplementary
Readings
Step 2:
Introduction and
IPA Practice
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the

phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
I
Look at the consonants preceding each N
Find the largest continuous sequence that English

phonotactics allows to be an onset.
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas
Write an O above that sequence and connect each

phone to that O with a line.
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
b d A t A g l i
t g n I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Step 2:
Introduction and
IPA Practice

I

The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas

Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N
b d A t A g l i
t g n I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Step 2:
Introduction and
IPA Practice

I

The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas

Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N
b d A t A g l i
t g n I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Step 2:
Introduction and
IPA Practice

I

The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas

Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N
O N
b d A t A g l i
t g n I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Step 2:
Supplementary
Readings

Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables

Syllables and
Phonotactics


Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
O N O N
O N
b d A t A g l i
Onsets Over
Codas
t g n I s p
I [t] is not a possible onset of English (no word starts with [t])
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Step 2:
Supplementary
Readings

Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables

Syllables and
Phonotactics


Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
O N O N
O N
O N
b d A t A g l i
Onsets Over
Codas
t g n I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Step 2:
Supplementary
Readings

I


Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
O N O N
O N
b d A t A g
l i
Onsets Over
Codas
t g n I s p
I [gl] is a possible onset of English (e.g. [glow])
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Step 2:
Supplementary
Readings

I


Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
O N O N
O N
b d A t A g
O N
l i
Onsets Over
Codas
t g n I s p
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Step 2:
Supplementary
Readings

I


Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
O N O N
O N
b d A t A g
O N
l i
O N
Onsets Over
Codas
t g n I s p
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Step 2:
I

Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Step 3: Label Codas
O N O N
O N
O N
Syllabic
Consonants
O N
Onsets Over
Codas
b d A t A g
l i
t g n I s p
I [gn] is not a possible onset of English (no word starts with [gn])
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Finding the Onsets
Supplementary
Readings
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
To answer this, either:

I
Introduction and
IPA Practice
A major part of Step 2 is figuring out Can this

sequence of phones be an onset in English?
Use your own intuitions as a native speaker

(if you are one)
Team up with a friend who is a native speaker
(if you arent one)

Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
Either way, you ask can a word of English start with

this sequence of phones?
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label the Codas
Supplementary
Readings
Step 3:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up the
remaining unlabeled phones following a nucleus, and label
them as a coda.
I
Look at the consonants following each N (that arent

already labeled as Os)

phonotactics allows to be a coda.
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas
Write a C above that sequence and connect each phone

to that C with a line.
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N
O N
b d A t A g
O N
l i
O N
t g n I s p
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Step 3:
them as a coda.
I


Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas

Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N C O N
b d A t A g
O N
l i
O N
t g n I s p
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Step 3:
them as a coda.
I


Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas

Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N C O N
b d A t A g
O N C O N
l i
t g n I s p
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Step 3:
them as a coda.
I


Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas

Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N C O N
b d A t A g
O N C O N C
l i
t g n I s p
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Step 3:
Supplementary
Readings

them as a coda.
I
I
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables

Syllables and
Phonotactics

Step 3: Label Codas

Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N C O N
b d A t A g
O N C O N
l i
t g n I s
I [sp] is a possible coda of English (e.g. [k2sp])

.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Finding the Codas
Supplementary
Readings
As with Step 2, a major part of Step 3 is the

question Can this sequence of phones be a coda in
English?
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
To answer this question, either:

I
Use your own intuitions as a native speaker

(if you are one)
Team up with a friend who is a native speaker
(if you arent one)

Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Either way, you ask can a word of English end with

this sequence of phones?
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 4: Add the Syllable Lablels

Step 4:
Supplementary
Readings
Group together the Os, Ns and Cs into syllables.

I
Above each N, write a (for syllable), and draw a line

connecting them.
If there is an O preceding an N, connect that O to the

that N is connected to.
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
If there is a C following an N, connect that C to the that

the N is connected to

Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N C O N
b d A t A g
O N C O N
l i
t g n I s
.
p
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Step 4:
Supplementary
Readings

I

connecting them.

Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics


Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
O N O N C O N
b d A t A g
Onsets Over
Codas
O N C O N
l i
t g n I s
.
p
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Step 4:
Supplementary
Readings

I

connecting them.

Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics


Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
ON ON C ON
b d A t A g
Onsets Over
Codas
ON C ON
l i
t g n I s
.
p
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Step 4:
Supplementary
Readings

I

connecting them.

Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics


Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
ON ONC ON
b d A t A g
Onsets Over
Codas
ONC ON
l i
t g n I s
.
p
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Study Exercise:
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
At home, try running this procedure on the following

words:
I
I
I
(understanding)
(Pepto Bismol)
(Bologna)
[2nd1stndiN]
[pEptow bIzmAl]
[b2lowni]
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Step 3: Label Codas
Syllabic
Consonants
Confirm that our rule will predict the correct

syllabification for these words.
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Summing Up
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
What Weve Done So Far:

I
I
The Basics of
Syllables
Weve laid out a rule that will correctly syllabify

English words.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
This rule, then, is one (very small) part of an answer

to our fundamental question.
Step 3: Label Codas
The Fundamental Question (for Linguists):

What is the system of rules and mental representations
that underlies out ability to speak and understand a
human language?
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Problem: Syllabic Consonants
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
But, theres a problem for our syllabification rule...

I
If we follow this rule, the only possible nuclei we will

get will be vowels
However, although every vowel is a nucleus...
...some nuclei are not vowels.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic Consonants in English

Key Fact:
The consonants [l], [n], and [], can be nuclei in English.
Supplementary
Readings
Words With Consonants as Syllabic Nuclei:
Introduction and
IPA Practice
kitten
[kI . tn]
cuddle
[k2 . dl]
banner
[b . n]
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Question: Why do we say they are the nucleus of a syllable?
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Key Fact:
The consonants [l], [n], and [], can be nuclei in English.
Supplementary
Readings
Words With Consonants as Syllabic Nuclei:
Introduction and
IPA Practice
kitten
[kI . tn]
cuddle
[k2 . dl]
banner
[b . n]
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Question: Why do we say they are the nucleus of a syllable?

Answer: We hear these words as having two syllables, but
there is no second vowel before the final consonant.
I
kitten and cuddle: tongue never leaves alveolar ridge

after [t]/[d].
banner: you go immediately from [n] to [], with no

intervening vowel
.
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Vocabulary:
When a consonant serves as a syllabic nucleus, it is said
to be a syllabic consonant
IPA Representation:
In IPA, syllabic consonants are indicated by putting a little
vertical line beneath them:
I
I
kitten
cuddle
banner
[ kI . tn ]
"
[ k2 . dl ]
"
[ b . n ]
"
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics

It seems, then, that the real syllabification rule for English
outputs representations like these:
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
ON ON
k I
t n
"
ON ON
ON ON
k 2 d l
"
Syllabic
Consonants
b n
"
Onsets Over
Codas
The Problem:
I
Our current rule wont make representations like this
so, we have to fix our rule...
... but it goes beyond 201 to explain how.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
One Last Mystery
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
Question:
Why dont we syllabify bologna like this: *[b2l . own . i]
I This syllabification is totally consistent with English
phonotactics.
I
I
I
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
[b2l] is a possible English syllable

[own] is a possible English syllable
[i] is a possible English syllable
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
The answer comes from an important feature of our rule...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Onsets Over Codas

A Prediction of Our Rule:
Supplementary
Readings
If phonotactics allow a consonant to be either an onset or a

coda, then it will be an onset.
I
[b2 . low . ni],
Introduction and
IPA Practice
not *[b2l . own . i]
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Question: How, exactly, does our rule predict this?
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Onsets Over Codas

A Prediction of Our Rule:
Supplementary
Readings
If phonotactics allow a consonant to be either an onset or a

coda, then it will be an onset.
I
[b2 . low . ni],
Introduction and
IPA Practice
not *[b2l . own . i]
The Basics of
Syllables
Question: How, exactly, does our rule predict this?
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Answer: Because our rule determines the onsets first.
Step 2:
Gather up all the consonants that can form an onset, and
label them as such.
Step 3:
Of the remaining consonants, gather up all those that can
form a coda, and label them as such.
Since our algorithm creates the onsets first...

...the codas are made out of only those consonants
that couldnt form onsets...
.
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Illustrative Derivation
Lets see in detail how this works, by using our algorithm
to syllabify bologna
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Step 1:
Label every vowel as a nucleus.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Step 1:
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
b 2 l ow n i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Step 1:
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
b 2 l ow n i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Step 2:
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
b 2 l ow n i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Step 2:
Syllables and
Phonotactics

Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N O N
b 2 l ow n i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
Step 2:
The Basics of
Syllables

Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N O N
b 2 l ow n i
I
Notice that on this step, we are forced to group [l] and [n]
as onsets
The rule wont let us wait to Step 3 to group them as

codas
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
Step 3:
The Basics of
Syllables

them as a coda.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N O N
b 2 l ow n i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
Step 3:
The Basics of
Syllables

them as a coda.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N O N
b 2 l ow n i
I
Nothing happens at this step, since there are no

remaining unlabeled phones.
.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Step 4:
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N O N
b 2 l ow n i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Step 4:
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
O N O N O N
b 2 l ow n i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Step 4:
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
ON ON ON
b 2 l ow n i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Summing Up:
Supplementary
Readings
There is a general preference for consonants to be

onsets, rather than codas.
That is, if the phonotactics allow a particular
consonant to be either an onset or a coda, then it will
be an onset.
I
[b2 . low . ni], not *[b2l . own . i]
The codas will only be made out of those consonants

that couldnt be onsets.
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas
Our syllabification algorithm captures this fact, by

ordering the labeling of onsets before the codas.
I
Introduction and
IPA Practice

Syllables Phonotactics

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Syllables and

Syllables and Phonotactics

The following readings have been posted to the Moodle

Contemporary Linguistics: Chapter 3 (pp. 77-84)

Syllables by Kyle Johnson

A Review of Where We Are

Last Unit: IPA

Some Quick IPA Practice

First, lets practice reading some IPA:

[maj b2lowni hz @ f1st nejm Its ow Es si ej A]

Some Quick IPA Practice

First, lets practice reading some IPA:

[maj b2lowni hz @ f1st nejm Its ow Es si ej A]

(My bologna has a first name, its O-S-C-A-R)

Some Quick IPA Practice

Heres another one:

[mInti plEZ1z Inklud pEptow bIzmAl ]

Some Quick IPA Practice

Heres another one:

[mInti plEZ1z Inklud pEptow bIzmAl ]

(Minty pleasures include Pepto Bismol)

IPA transcription represents some of our knowledge of

Phones making up the word

Sequence in which those phones are produced

However, there is more to a words pronunciation than

There are also general rules governing English

Rather, the phones are grouped together into beats

These beats making up the word give it a rhythm

These beats and rhythm come out naturally when

[2n . d1 . stn . diN]

[2n . d1 . stn . diN]

[b2 . low . ni]

*[2 . nd1s . tnd . iN]

[2n . d1 . stn . diN]

[b2 . low . ni]

*[2 . nd1s . tnd . iN]

So, this information is represented in our brains in some

When we learn a word like bologna, we learn:

The syllabification of word is memorized on a case-by-case

The syllabification of word is memorized on a case-by-case

Problem for This Hypothesis:

Read the following word to yourself silently: badartogly

Say the word to yourself slowly, breaking it into syllables...

The syllabification of word is memorized on a case-by-case

Problem for This Hypothesis:

Read the following word to yourself silently: badartogly

Say the word to yourself slowly, breaking it into syllables...

I would bet that you syllabified it as follows:

I would bet that you didnt syllabify it this way:

So the Wrong Hypothesis is wrong...

So the Wrong Hypothesis is wrong...

This rule tells you how to syllabify any imaginable word of

So the Wrong Hypothesis is wrong...

This rule tells you how to syllabify any imaginable word of

So the Wrong Hypothesis is wrong...

This rule tells you how to syllabify any imaginable word of

Before we can state the rule, we need to talk a bit more

The Structure of Syllables

The Structure of Syllables

Every syllable is made up of (at most) three parts:

Onset: the consonants that begin the syllable

Nucleus: the sound in the middle of the syllable

Coda: the consonants the end the syllable

Syllables can differ in size: