Syllable Structure & Word Stress

Question 1

Why do we use slashes in broad transcriptions?

Answer 1

When we do a broad transcription, we use the slashes to indicate to the reader that they’re reading sounds, not orthography.

Question 2

What is mapping CVC?

Answer 2

This is a method to expose the bare bones of utterances (spoken words).

Question 3

What is the meaning of C in Mapping?

Answer 3

A “C” is assigned for all single consonant phonemes

Question 4

What is the meaning of V in Mapping?

Answer 4

A “V” is assigned for all single vowel phonemes

Question 5

Complete the transcriptions and CVC Mapping of each word:

Answer 5

Question 6

Complete the transcriptions and CVC Mapping of each word:
1) is
2) sew
3) grand
4) static
5) couch
6) knife
7) success
8) exhaust
9) reputation
10) scrunched

Answer 6

1) /ɪz/
2) /soʊ/
3) /grænd/
4) /stætɪk/
5) /kaʊtʃ/
6) /naɪf/
7) /səksɛs/
8) /əgzɑst/
9) /rɛpjuteɪʃən/
10) /skrʌntʃt/

Question 7

What is the syllable anatomy?

Answer 7

Question 8

Which of of the 3 characteristics are optional and mandatory in the syllable anatomy?

Answer 8

Onset: Optional
Nucleus: Mandatory
Coda: Optional

Question 9

Which sound in a syllable is mandatory?

Answer 9

In a syllable, a vowel sound is mandatory
One vowel alone or a vowel in combination with one of more consonants

Question 10

Which sound is the core of a syllable?

Answer 10

Vowel is the core of a syllable and the smallest combination of sounds which can stand alone as its own syllable

Question 11

What is the exception to the mandatory vowel rule?

Answer 11

Interjections like mmmm! or shhhh!

Question 12

What is the difference between an open and closed syllable?

Answer 12

An open syllable has an “unfilled” coda.
A closed syllable has a “filled” coda.

Question 13

Answer 13

Question 14

In single-syllable words, which vowels can appear in open syllables?

Answer 14

In single syllable words, only tense vowels can appear in open syllables.
A schwa is lax, but the schwa is an exception.

Single syllable words with open codas can only end in the 8 tense vowel sounds:
/i, u, ɑ aɪ, aʊ, ɔɪ, eɪ, oʊ/

Question 15

One vowel sound =

Answer 15

one syllable
1V = 1σ

Question 16

Identify the syllable nuclei – add CVC map:
1) /ɪz/
2) /soʊ/
3) /grænd/
4) /stætɪk/
5) /kaʊtʃ/
6) /naɪf/
7) /səksɛs/
8) /əgzɑst/
9) /rɛpjuteɪʃən/
10) /skrʌntʃt/

Question 17

What does this rule represent? (C)3V(C)4,

Answer 17

The brackets indicate optional, and the superscript indicates maximum number or consonants in a cluster.

In English phonotactics this is allowed:
CCCVCCCC
/strɛŋkθs/
strengths

Question 18

Give an example of Phonotactics:

Answer 18

The non-word “blick” is often used as an example. It’s not a word, but it sounds like it could.

Question 19

We know each syllable has one vowel sound, but we have to consider where to mark where one coda ends and one onset begins.

The key is the ______________________, and it relies on phonotactics.

Answer 19

Maximal Onset Principle

Question 20

In a word like “electric,” we have /əlɛktrək/, or VCVCCCVC, how many syllables are there? How do we mark the syllable division?

Answer 20

1. If /ktr/ is not allowed as a cluster in an onset, let’s simplify. Work backwards.
2. Is /r/ allowed in the onset of a syllable (or word)? Yes. Can we add more to the onset?
3. Is /tr/ allowed in the onset of a syllable (or word)? Yes. Can we add more to the onset?
4. Is /ktr/ allowed on the onset of a syllable (or word)? No.
5. So we place the division before the the /tr/.
6. Because the /l/ sound can appear in the onset, it must appear in the onset.

/ə.lɛk.trək/, or VCVC.CCVC.

Question 21

What do we do with the rhotic vowels in CVC?

Answer 21

Mark rhotic vowels as VC – separate the vowel from the /r/ sound.

e.g.,

Question 22

Transcribe, complete the mapping CVC and divisions

1) on
2) sew
3) grand
4) static
5) couch
6) knife
7) success
8) exhaust
9) reputation
10) scrunched

Answer 22

Question 23

Syllable Stress =

Answer 23

“Lexical Stress”

Question 24

What is Lexical stress?

Answer 24

Lexical stress, like “lexicon” refers to words. They are natural stress patterns in words. In English, they are not predictable, but learned, and can be important to the meaning of the word

Question 25

What are the three possibilities for syllable stress?

Answer 25

1) Primary stress – monophthong/diphthong
The vowel in that stressed syllable is
a) a little louder
b) a little longer
c) a little higher pitch

2) Secondary stress – a monophthong/diphthong but
not as long or as loud

3) Weak stress – the schwa /ə/
almost disappears – often called the “reduced vowel”

Question 26

If you have difficulty identifying where the strong syllable is, try moving the stress to each syllable and listen for what sounds “right.”

Answer 26

INventory lexicon banana
inVENtory lexicon banana
invenTORy lexicon banana
inventoRY

Question 27

Where do you place the /’/ to mark syllable stress?

Answer 27

The symbol /ˈ/ is placed in front of the first sound in the strong syllable.

/ˈɪnvəntɔri/
/ˈlɛksəkɑn/
/bəˈnænə/

/əˈlɛktrɪk/

Question 28

Transcribe, complete the Mapping and add stress:

Answer 28

Question 28

Transcribe, complete the Mapping, and add stress:

1) on
2) sew
3) grand
4) static
5) couch
6) knife
7) success
8) exhaust
9) reputation
10) scrunched

Answer 28

Question 29

What symbol is used to mark secondary stress?

Answer 29

In longer words, secondary stress can usually be identified. It’s not as strong as the primary stress, but it’s stronger than the weak syllables. It can be marked with the IPA symbol /ˌ/

antidepressant /ˌæntidəˈprɛsənt/
septuagenarian /ˌsɛptədʒəˈnɛriən/

Question 30

What is the exception?

Answer 30

Spondees

Question 31

What are spondees?

Answer 31

Spondees are two syllable words which can be pronounced in a balanced way. They are typically compound words.

toothpaste cowboy landscape hotdog bookmark handshake

They are useful because they provide even stimulus whereas a typical two-syllable word would have one strong syllable and one weak. What if the weaker syllable is just below the pt’s hearing threshold? Then it’s not a great stimulus.

Question 32

Why the schwa is often called the “reduced” vowel?

Answer 32

The schwa is quieter, shorter, and lower pitch than vowels (nuclei) in syllables with primary or secondary stress.

Think of a schwa as having the potential to be a pure vowel, if its circumstances change, i.e., if the stress moves to that syllable.

Question 33

True or False: the schwa can substitute SOME orthographic vowels.

Answer 33

False, the schwa can substitute all orthographic vowels

A: about, balloon
E: celebrate, enemy
I: duplicate, gravity
O: parrot, octopus
U: support, circus

Question 34

What are the differences between the schwa and the strut?

Answer 34

Question 35

In these multisyllabic words, transcribe as /ə/ or /ʌ/, with mapping and stress:

salami
buffalo
enough
detect
pumice
between
united
televise
sunny
customary

Question 36

What are the differences between the Schwar /ɚ/ and Nurse /ɜ˞/ “Right-Hook Reverse Epsilon?

Answer 36