Syllables and Phonotactics

Syllables and Phonotactics
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Supplementary Readings
The following readings have been posted to the SPARK
course site:
◮ Contemporary Linguistics: Chapter 3 (pp. 77-84)
◮ “Syllables” by Kyle Johnson
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

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?
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

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?
Last Week:
We learned IPA, a system that unambiguously represents
the phones of all human languages.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

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?
Last Week:
We learned IPA, a system that unambiguously represents
the phones of all human languages.
This Week:
We will begin to learn some rules that operate over those
phonetic representations, and thereby affect the way that
particular words are pronounced.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
First, let’s practice reading some IPA:
[maj b2lowni hæz @ f1ôst nejm Its ow Es si ej Aô]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
First, let’s practice reading some IPA:
[maj b2lowni hæz @ f1ôst nejm Its ow Es si ej Aô]
(My bologna has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R)
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Here’s another one:
[mInti plEZ1ôz Inklud pEptow bIzmAl ]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Here’s another one:
[mInti plEZ1ôz Inklud pEptow bIzmAl ]
(Minty pleasures include Pepto Bismol)
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2n
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ô
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôs
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôst
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstæ
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstæn
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstænd
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændi
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN aj
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajp
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpi
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej t
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej tej
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej tejk
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej tejks
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej tejks s
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej tejks s2
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej tejks s2m
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej tejks s2m p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej tejks s2m pô
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej tejks s2m pôæ
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej tejks s2m pôæk
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej tejks s2m pôækt
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej tejks s2m pôæktI
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Some Quick IPA Practice
Let’s also practice transcribing English into IPA:
“Understanding IPA takes some practice.”
[ 2nd1ôstændiN ajpiej tejks s2m pôæktIs ]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards ‘Phonology’
The transcription of a word into IPA represents one kind of
knowledge we have about how that word is pronounced.
◮ The individual phones making up the word
◮ The sequence in which those phones are produced
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards ‘Phonology’
The transcription of a word into IPA represents one kind of
knowledge we have about how that word is pronounced.
◮ The individual phones making up the word
◮ The sequence in which those phones are produced
However, there is more to the pronunciation of a word
than just this...
◮ These other factors of pronunciation are general rules
governing how words (of English) are pronounced.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Introducing Syllables
Key Example
When we pronounce a word like ‘understanding’, we don’t
pronounce (or perceive) it as a simple string of sounds...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Introducing Syllables
Key Example
When we pronounce a word like ‘understanding’, we don’t
pronounce (or perceive) it as a simple string of sounds...
◮ Rather, the phones are grouped together into ‘beats’
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Introducing Syllables
Key Example
When we pronounce a word like ‘understanding’, we don’t
pronounce (or perceive) it as a simple string of sounds...
◮ Rather, the phones are grouped together into ‘beats’
◮ These ‘beats’ making up the word give it a rhythm
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Introducing Syllables
Key Example
When we pronounce a word like ‘understanding’, we don’t
pronounce (or perceive) it as a simple string of sounds...
◮ 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
we speak words slowly
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Introducing Syllables
Key Example
When we pronounce a word like ‘understanding’, we don’t
pronounce (or perceive) it as a simple string of sounds...
◮ 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
we speak words slowly
◮ [2n . d1ô . stæn . diN] ‘understanding’
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Introducing Syllables
Key Example
When we pronounce a word like ‘understanding’, we don’t
pronounce (or perceive) it as a simple string of sounds...
◮ 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
we speak words slowly
◮ [2n . d1ô . stæn . diN] ‘understanding’
◮ [pEp . tow . bIz . mAl] ‘Pepto Bismol’
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Introducing Syllables
Key Example
When we pronounce a word like ‘understanding’, we don’t
pronounce (or perceive) it as a simple string of sounds...
◮ 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
we speak words slowly
◮ [2n . d1ô . stæn . diN] ‘understanding’
◮ [pEp . tow . bIz . mAl] ‘Pepto Bismol’
◮ [b2 . low . ni] ‘Bologna’
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Introducing Syllables
Vocabulary:
These ‘beats’ making up the sound-structure of the word
are called syllables.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Introducing Syllables
Vocabulary:
These ‘beats’ making up the sound-structure of the word
are called syllables.
Key Fact:
For about 99% of English words, speakers only accept
one way of breaking it up into syllables
◮ [2n . d1ô . stæn . diN] *[2 . nd1ôs . tænd . iN]
◮ [pEp . tow . bIz . mAl] *[pEpt . ow . bIzm . Al]
◮ [b2 . low . ni] *[b2l . own . i]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Introducing Syllables
Vocabulary:
These ‘beats’ making up the sound-structure of the word
are called syllables.
Key Fact:
For about 99% of English words, speakers only accept
one way of breaking it up into syllables
◮ [2n . d1ô . stæn . diN] *[2 . nd1ôs . tænd . iN]
◮ [pEp . tow . bIz . mAl] *[pEpt . ow . bIzm . Al]
◮ [b2 . low . ni] *[b2l . own . i]
Conclusion:
Part of what English speakers know when they know their
language is how to divide English words into syllables
◮ So, the knowledge of how to do that is represented in our
brains in some way.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards Syllabification
Question:
How is this information represented in our brains?
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards Syllabification
Question:
How is this information represented in our brains?
Hypothesis 1:
Perhaps we just memorize it on a word-by-word basis?
◮ For every word of a language, there’s a lot you have to
memorize (sound, meaning, part-of-speech, etc.)
◮ Maybe the way that the word is broken down into syllables
is just one of those things?...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards Syllabification
Question:
How is this information represented in our brains?
Hypothesis 1:
Perhaps we just memorize it on a word-by-word basis?
◮ For every word of a language, there’s a lot you have to
memorize (sound, meaning, part-of-speech, etc.)
◮ Maybe the way that the word is broken down into syllables
is just one of those things?...
Vocabulary:
Breaking down a word into syllables is called
syllabification.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards Syllabification
Hypothesis 1:
The syllabification of word is just memorized on a
word-by-word basis.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards Syllabification
Hypothesis 1:
The syllabification of word is just memorized on a
word-by-word basis.
Problem for Hypothesis 1:
English speakers know how to syllabify words they’ve never
heard spoken before.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards Syllabification
Hypothesis 1:
The syllabification of word is just memorized on a
word-by-word basis.
Problem for Hypothesis 1:
English speakers know how to syllabify words they’ve never
heard spoken before.
Example:
◮ Read the following word to yourself silently: “badartogly”
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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Introduction and
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The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards Syllabification
Hypothesis 1:
The syllabification of word is just memorized on a
word-by-word basis.
Problem for Hypothesis 1:
English speakers know how to syllabify words they’ve never
heard spoken before.
Example:
◮ Read the following word to yourself silently: “badartogly”
◮ Say the word to yourself slowly, breaking it into syllables...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards Syllabification
Hypothesis 1:
The syllabification of word is just memorized on a
word-by-word basis.
Problem for Hypothesis 1:
English speakers know how to syllabify words they’ve never
heard spoken before.
Example:
◮ 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:
◮ [ bæ . dAô . tA . gli ]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards Syllabification
Hypothesis 1:
The syllabification of word is just memorized on a
word-by-word basis.
Problem for Hypothesis 1:
English speakers know how to syllabify words they’ve never
heard spoken before.
Example:
◮ 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:
◮ [ bæ . dAô . tA . gli ]
◮ I would bet that you didn’t syllabify it this way:
◮ [ bæd . Aôt . Ag . li ]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards Syllabification
So, there’s only one way to syllabify “bardartogly”...
... so what?
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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Introduction and
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The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards Syllabification
So, there’s only one way to syllabify “bardartogly”...
... so what?
◮ Since you’d never heard this made-up word before,
your knowledge of how to syllabify it couldn’t have
been ‘just memorized’.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards Syllabification
So, there’s only one way to syllabify “bardartogly”...
... so what?
◮ Since you’d never heard this made-up word before,
your knowledge of how to syllabify it couldn’t have
been ‘just memorized’.
◮ Rather, you had to have been following some kind of
general rules...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards Syllabification
So, there’s only one way to syllabify “bardartogly”...
... so what?
◮ Since you’d never heard this made-up word before,
your knowledge of how to syllabify it couldn’t have
been ‘just memorized’.
◮ Rather, you had to have been following some kind of
general rules...
◮ ... rules that give you a general recipe for breaking
down any imaginable word into syllables.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabification by Rule
Hypothesis 2:
Part of your knowledge of English is a general rule of
syllabification
◮ This rule tells you, for any imaginable word of
English, how to break the word down into syllables.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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The Basics of
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Syllables and
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Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabification by Rule
Hypothesis 2:
Part of your knowledge of English is a general rule of
syllabification
◮ This rule tells you, for any imaginable word of
English, how to break the word down into syllables.
Vocabulary:
Phonology = the study of the general rules that govern
how words are pronounced in a language.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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The Basics of
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Syllables and
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Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabification by Rule
Hypothesis 2:
Part of your knowledge of English is a general rule of
syllabification
◮ This rule tells you, for any imaginable word of
English, how to break the word down into syllables.
Vocabulary:
Phonology = the study of the general rules that govern
how words are pronounced in a language.
The Burning Question:
What are these phonological rules for syllabifying a word
of English?
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Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Before we can begin to answer this question (and state
the rule), we will need to talk a bit more about the internal
structure of syllables themselves...
Syllables and
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The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

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
(usually a vowel)
◮ Coda: the consonants the end the syllable
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The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

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
(usually a vowel)
◮ Coda: the consonants the end the syllable
◮ Syllables can differ in size:
◮ Some syllables do not have onsets (e.g. [it])
◮ Some syllables do not have codas (e.g. [ti])
◮ But, every syllable has a nucleus
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Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

The Structure of Syllables
Here are some syllables, broken down into their parts:
Syllable Onset Nucleus Coda
[bæn] [b] [æ] [n]
[bi] [b] [i] NONE
[æn] NONE [æ] [n]
[stænd] [st] [æ] [nd]
[plæNk] [pl] [æ] [Nk]
[bOj] [b] [Oj] NONE
[spôej] [spô] [ej] NONE
[aj] NONE [aj] NONE
Note:
Both parts of a diphthong count as being in the ‘nucleus’
of the syllable.
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Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards ‘Phonotactics’
Key Fact:
Not every sequence of phones is a possible onset or
coda in English.
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Phonotactics
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Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards ‘Phonotactics’
Key Fact:
Not every sequence of phones is a possible onset or
coda in English.
◮ Consider the following sequences of phones:
◮ [mba . ka]
◮ [Na . to]
◮ [tsA]
◮ [nukÙ]
◮ [tæg . nIsp]
Syllables and
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Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards ‘Phonotactics’
Key Fact:
Not every sequence of phones is a possible onset or
coda in English.
◮ Consider the following sequences of phones:
◮ [mba . ka]
◮ [Na . to]
◮ [tsA]
◮ [nukÙ]
◮ [tæg . nIsp]
◮ Suppose I said one of them was an obsolete word of
English most people don’t know. Which would it likely be?
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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The Basics of
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Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards ‘Phonotactics’
Key Fact:
Not every sequence of phones is a possible onset or
coda in English.
◮ Consider the following sequences of phones:
◮ [mba . ka]
◮ [Na . to]
◮ [tsA]
◮ [nukÙ]
◮ [tæg . nIsp]
◮ Suppose I said one of them was an obsolete word of
English most people don’t know. Which would it likely be?
◮ You probably said [tæg . nIsp]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards ‘Phonotactics’
Key Fact:
Not every sequence of phones is a possible onset or
coda in English.
◮ Consider the following sequences of phones:
◮ [mba . ka]
◮ [Na . to]
◮ [tsA]
◮ [nukÙ]
◮ [tæg . nIsp]
◮ Suppose I said one of them was an obsolete word of
English most people don’t know. Which would it likely be?
◮ You probably said [tæg . nIsp]
◮ There’s good reason for this:
◮ Only [tæg . nIsp] ‘sounds’ like an English word.
◮ Even though it’s silly-sounding, it’s the only word
from this list that normal speakers of English can
pronounce.
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The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards ‘Phonotactics’
But why don’t those other words sound like English?
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The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards ‘Phonotactics’
But why don’t those other words sound like English?
◮ [mba . ka]
◮ The first syllable starts with [mb]
◮ No English word or syllable can start with [mb]
◮ The sequence [mb] is not a possible onset
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards ‘Phonotactics’
But why don’t those other words sound like English?
◮ [mba . ka]
◮ The first syllable starts with [mb]
◮ No English word or syllable can start with [mb]
◮ The sequence [mb] is not a possible onset
◮ [Na . to]
◮ The first syllable starts with [N]
◮ No English word or syllable can start with [N]
◮ The sequence [N] is not a possible onset
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards ‘Phonotactics’
But why don’t those other words sound like English?
◮ [mba . ka]
◮ The first syllable starts with [mb]
◮ No English word or syllable can start with [mb]
◮ The sequence [mb] is not a possible onset
◮ [Na . to]
◮ [tsA]
◮ The first syllable starts with [N]
◮ No English word or syllable can start with [N]
◮ The sequence [N] is not a possible onset
◮ 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
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The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Towards ‘Phonotactics’
But why don’t those other words sound like English?
◮ [mba . ka]
◮ The first syllable starts with [mb]
◮ No English word or syllable can start with [mb]
◮ The sequence [mb] is not a possible onset
◮ [Na . to]
◮ [tsA]
◮ [nukÙ]
◮ The first syllable starts with [N]
◮ No English word or syllable can start with [N]
◮ The sequence [N] is not a possible onset
◮ The first syllable starts with [ts]
◮ No English word or syllable can start with [ts]
◮ The sequence [ts] is not a possible onset
◮ The first syllable ends with [kÙ]
◮ No English word or syllable can end with [kÙ]
◮ The sequence [kÙ] is not a possible coda
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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The Basics of
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The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Phonotactic Constraints
Vocabulary:
The rules that determine the possible onsets or codas are
called phonotactics constraints (or just ‘phonotactics’).
◮ ‘phono’ = sounds ; ‘tactic’ = touching
(which sounds can ‘touch’)
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Phonotactic Constraints
Vocabulary:
The rules that determine the possible onsets or codas are
called phonotactics constraints (or just ‘phonotactics’).
◮ ‘phono’ = sounds ; ‘tactic’ = touching
(which sounds can ‘touch’)
Key Fact:
Different languages have different phonotactic
constraints.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Phonotactic Constraints
Vocabulary:
The rules that determine the possible onsets or codas are
called phonotactics constraints (or just ‘phonotactics’).
◮ ‘phono’ = sounds ; ‘tactic’ = touching
(which sounds can ‘touch’)
Key Fact:
Different languages have different phonotactic
constraints.
◮ In Dholuo, [mb] and [N] are possible onsets:
◮ [mba . ka] = story
◮ [Na . to] = person
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Phonotactic Constraints
Vocabulary:
The rules that determine the possible onsets or codas are
called phonotactics constraints (or just ‘phonotactics’).
◮ ‘phono’ = sounds ; ‘tactic’ = touching
(which sounds can ‘touch’)
Key Fact:
Different languages have different phonotactic
constraints.
◮ In Dholuo, [mb] and [N] are possible onsets:
◮ [mba . ka] = story
◮ [Na . to] = person
◮ In Tlingit, [ts] is a possible onset, and [kÙ] a possible
coda:
◮ [tsA] = seal
◮ [nukÙ] = to do
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Phonotactics
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The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Phonotactic Constraints
◮ So, what are the phonotactic constraints of English?
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Phonotactic Constraints
◮ So, what are the phonotactic constraints of English?
◮ Well, there are too many to cover them all...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
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Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Phonotactic Constraints
◮ So, what are the phonotactic constraints of English?
◮ Well, there are too many to cover them all...
◮ But, to give you an idea of how complex they can get,
here’s one...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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Phonotactics
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Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

The Largest Possible Onsets in English
⎧
⎧
⎨
[p]
⎩
[l] [splin] ‘spleen’
[ô] [spôej] ‘spray’
[j] [spju] ‘spew’
⎪⎨
[t]
[s]
⎪⎩
� [ô] [stôiN] ‘string’
⎧
⎪⎨
[w] [skwejô] ‘square’
[j] [skju] ‘skew’
[k]
⎪⎩
[l] [skl1ôosIs] ‘sclerosis’
[ô] [skôejp] ‘scrape’
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

The Largest Possible Onsets in English
⎧
⎧
⎨
[p]
⎩
[l] [splin] ‘spleen’
[ô] [spôej] ‘spray’
[j] [spju] ‘spew’
⎪⎨
[t]
[s]
⎪⎩
� [ô] [stôiN] ‘string’
⎧
⎪⎨
[w] [skwejô] ‘square’
[j] [skju] ‘skew’
[k]
⎪⎩
[l] [skl1ôosIs] ‘sclerosis’
[ô] [skôejp] ‘scrape’
What does this diagram say?
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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Syllables and
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The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

The Largest Possible Onsets in English
⎧
⎧
⎨
[p]
⎩
[l] [splin] ‘spleen’
[ô] [spôej] ‘spray’
[j] [spju] ‘spew’
⎪⎨
[t]
[s]
⎪⎩
� [ô] [stôiN] ‘string’
⎧
⎪⎨
[w] [skwejô] ‘square’
[j] [skju] ‘skew’
[k]
⎪⎩
[l] [skl1ôosIs] ‘sclerosis’
[ô] [skôejp] ‘scrape’
First, it says that an onset made up of three consonants
has to start with [s].
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Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

The Largest Possible Onsets in English
⎧
⎧
⎨
[p]
⎩
[l] [splin] ‘spleen’
[ô] [spôej] ‘spray’
[j] [spju] ‘spew’
⎪⎨
[t]
[s]
⎪⎩
� [ô] [stôiN] ‘string’
⎧
⎪⎨
[w] [skwejô] ‘square’
[j] [skju] ‘skew’
[k]
⎪⎩
[l] [skl1ôosIs] ‘sclerosis’
[ô] [skôejp] ‘scrape’
Next, it says that the second of the three consonants
must be [p], [t], or [k]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

The Largest Possible Onsets in English
⎧
⎧
⎨
[p]
⎩
[l] [splin] ‘spleen’
[ô] [spôej] ‘spray’
[j] [spju] ‘spew’
⎪⎨
[t]
[s]
⎪⎩
� [ô] [stôiN] ‘string’
⎧
⎪⎨
[w] [skwejô] ‘square’
[j] [skju] ‘skew’
[k]
⎪⎩
[l] [skl1ôosIs] ‘sclerosis’
[ô] [skôejp] ‘scrape’
Then, it says that if the second consonant is [p]...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

The Largest Possible Onsets in English
⎧
⎧
⎨
[p]
⎩
[l] [splin] ‘spleen’
[ô] [spôej] ‘spray’
[j] [spju] ‘spew’
⎪⎨
[t]
[s]
⎪⎩
� [ô] [stôiN] ‘string’
⎧
⎪⎨
[w] [skwejô] ‘square’
[j] [skju] ‘skew’
[k]
⎪⎩
[l] [skl1ôosIs] ‘sclerosis’
[ô] [skôejp] ‘scrape’
Then, it says that if the second consonant is [p]...
... then the third consonant has to be [l], [ô], or [j].
Syllables and
Phonotactics
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The Basics of
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Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

The Largest Possible Onsets in English
⎧
⎧
⎨
[p]
⎩
[l] [splin] ‘spleen’
[ô] [spôej] ‘spray’
[j] [spju] ‘spew’
⎪⎨
[t]
[s]
⎪⎩
� [ô] [stôiN] ‘string’
⎧
⎪⎨
[w] [skwejô] ‘square’
[j] [skju] ‘skew’
[k]
⎪⎩
[l] [skl1ôosIs] ‘sclerosis’
[ô] [skôejp] ‘scrape’
Then, it says that if the second consonant is [t]...
... then the third consonant has to be [ô].
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

The Largest Possible Onsets in English
⎧
⎧
⎨
[p]
⎩
[l] [splin] ‘spleen’
[ô] [spôej] ‘spray’
[j] [spju] ‘spew’
⎪⎨
[t]
[s]
⎪⎩
� [ô] [stôiN] ‘string’
⎧
⎪⎨
[w] [skwejô] ‘square’
[j] [skju] ‘skew’
[k]
⎪⎩
[l] [skl1ôosIs] ‘sclerosis’
[ô] [skôejp] ‘scrape’
Finally, it says that if the second consonant is [k]...
... then the third consonant has to be [w], [j], [l], or [ô].
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Phonotactics and Syllabification
Fun Fact:
These phonotactic constraints play a major role in
syllabification.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Phonotactics and Syllabification
Fun Fact:
These phonotactic constraints play a major role in
syllabification.
◮ Why don’t we syllabify like this: *[2 . nd1ôs . tænd . iN]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Phonotactics and Syllabification
Fun Fact:
These phonotactic constraints play a major role in
syllabification.
◮ Why don’t we syllabify like this: *[2 . nd1ôs . tænd . iN]
◮ Because [nd] is not a possible onset of English
(No word of English begins in [nd])
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Phonotactics and Syllabification
Fun Fact:
These phonotactic constraints play a major role in
syllabification.
◮ Why don’t we syllabify like this: *[2 . nd1ôs . tænd . iN]
◮ Because [nd] is not a possible onset of English
(No word of English begins in [nd])
◮ Why not this: *[pEpt . ow . bIzm . Al]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Phonotactics and Syllabification
Fun Fact:
These phonotactic constraints play a major role in
syllabification.
◮ Why don’t we syllabify like this: *[2 . nd1ôs . tænd . iN]
◮ Because [nd] is not a possible onset of English
(No word of English begins in [nd])
◮ Why not this: *[pEpt . ow . bIzm . Al]
◮ Because [zm] is not a possible coda of English
(No word of English ends in [zm]])
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Toward the Syllabification Rule
However, phonotactic constraints don’t explain
everything...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Toward the Syllabification Rule
However, phonotactic constraints don’t explain
everything...
◮ Why don’t we syllabify like this: *[b2l . own . i]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Toward the Syllabification Rule
However, phonotactic constraints don’t explain
everything...
◮ Why don’t we syllabify like this: *[b2l . own . i]
◮ This syllabification is totally consistent with English
phonotactics.
◮ [b2l] is a possible English syllable
◮ [own] is a possible English syllable
◮ [i] is a possible English syllable
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Toward the Syllabification Rule
However, phonotactic constraints don’t explain
everything...
◮ Why don’t we syllabify like this: *[b2l . own . i]
◮ This syllabification is totally consistent with English
phonotactics.
◮ [b2l] is a possible English syllable
◮ [own] is a possible English syllable
◮ [i] is a possible English syllable
◮ The answer will come once we have a concrete
procedure (algorithm) for syllabifying an English
word...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
The Structure of Syllables
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

The Syllabification Algorithm
◮ There are four main steps to the ‘syllabification rule’
(‘syllabification procedure’, ‘syllabification algorithm’)
◮ We will illustrate each step with our made-up words
[bædAôtAgli] and [tægnIsp].
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 1: Label the Nuclei
◮ Every syllable has a nucleus.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 1: Label the Nuclei
◮ Every syllable has a nucleus.
◮ Key Fact: All vowels serve as syllabic nuclei.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 1: Label the Nuclei
◮ Every syllable has a nucleus.
◮ Key Fact: All vowels serve as syllabic nuclei.
◮ So, Step One of our syllabification procedure is:
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 1: Label the Nuclei
◮ Every syllable has a nucleus.
◮ Key Fact: All vowels serve as syllabic nuclei.
◮ So, Step One of our syllabification procedure is:
◮ Identify all the vowels in the word, and...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 1: Label the Nuclei
◮ Every syllable has a nucleus.
◮ Key Fact: All vowels serve as syllabic nuclei.
◮ So, Step One of our syllabification procedure is:
◮ Identify all the vowels in the word, and...
◮ Label those vowels as ‘nuclei’ (N)
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 1: Label the Nuclei
◮ Every syllable has a nucleus.
◮ Key Fact: All vowels serve as syllabic nuclei.
◮ So, Step One of our syllabification procedure is:
◮ Identify all the vowels in the word, and...
◮ Label those vowels as ‘nuclei’ (N)
b æ d A ô t A g l i t æ g n I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 1: Label the Nuclei
b
◮ Every syllable has a nucleus.
◮ Key Fact: All vowels serve as syllabic nuclei.
◮ So, Step One of our syllabification procedure is:
◮ Identify all the vowels in the word, and...
◮ Label those vowels as ‘nuclei’ (N)
N
æ d
N
A ô t
N
A g l
N
i t
N
æ g n
N
I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
◮ Look at the consonants preceding each ‘N’
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
◮ Look at the consonants preceding each ‘N’
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be an onset.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
◮ Look at the consonants preceding each ‘N’
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be an onset.
◮ Write an ‘O’ above that sequence and connect each
phone to that ‘O’ with a line.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
b
◮ Look at the consonants preceding each ‘N’
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be an onset.
◮ Write an ‘O’ above that sequence and connect each
phone to that ‘O’ with a line.
N
æ d
N
A ô t
N
A g l
N
i t
N
æ g n
N
I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants preceding each ‘N’
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be an onset.
◮ Write an ‘O’ above that sequence and connect each
phone to that ‘O’ with a line.
N
æ d
N
A ô t
N
A g l
N
i t
N
æ g n
N
I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants preceding each ‘N’
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be an onset.
◮ Write an ‘O’ above that sequence and connect each
phone to that ‘O’ with a line.
N
æ
O
d
N
A ô t
N
A g l
N
i t
N
æ g n
N
I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants preceding each ‘N’
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be an onset.
◮ Write an ‘O’ above that sequence and connect each
phone to that ‘O’ with a line.
N
æ
O
d
N
A ô
O
t
N
A g l
N
i t
N
æ g n
N
I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants preceding each ‘N’
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be an onset.
◮ Write an ‘O’ above that sequence and connect each
phone to that ‘O’ with a line.
N
æ
O
d
N
A ô
O
t
N
A g l
N
i t
N
æ g n
N
I s p
◮ [ôt] is not a possible onset of English (no word starts with [ôt])
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants preceding each ‘N’
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be an onset.
◮ Write an ‘O’ above that sequence and connect each
phone to that ‘O’ with a line.
N
æ
O
d
N
A ô
O
t
N
A g
O
l
N
i t
N
æ g n
N
I s p
◮ [ôt] is not a possible onset of English (no word starts with [ôt])
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants preceding each ‘N’
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be an onset.
◮ Write an ‘O’ above that sequence and connect each
phone to that ‘O’ with a line.
N
æ
O
d
N
A ô
O
t
N
A
O
g l
N
i t
N
æ g n
N
I s p
◮ [ôt] is not a possible onset of English (no word starts with [ôt])
◮ [gl] is a possible onset of English (e.g. [glow])
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants preceding each ‘N’
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be an onset.
◮ Write an ‘O’ above that sequence and connect each
phone to that ‘O’ with a line.
N
æ
O
d
N
A ô
O
t
N
A
O
g l
N
i
O
t
N
æ g n
N
I s p
◮ [ôt] is not a possible onset of English (no word starts with [ôt])
◮ [gl] is a possible onset of English (e.g. [glow])
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants preceding each ‘N’
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be an onset.
◮ Write an ‘O’ above that sequence and connect each
phone to that ‘O’ with a line.
N
æ
O
d
N
A ô
O
t
N
A
O
g l
N
i
O
t
N
æ g
O
n
N
I s p
◮ [ôt] is not a possible onset of English (no word starts with [ôt])
◮ [gl] is a possible onset of English (e.g. [glow])
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 2: Label the Onsets
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants preceding each ‘N’
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be an onset.
◮ Write an ‘O’ above that sequence and connect each
phone to that ‘O’ with a line.
N
æ
O
d
N
A ô
O
t
N
A
O
g l
N
i
O
t
N
æ g
O
n
N
I s p
◮ [ôt] is not a possible onset of English (no word starts with [ôt])
◮ [gl] is a possible onset of English (e.g. [glow])
◮ [gn] is not a possible onset of English (no word starts with [gn])
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Finding the Onsets
◮ A major part of ‘Step 2’ is asking and answering “Can
this sequence of phones be an onset in English?”
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Finding the Onsets
◮ A major part of ‘Step 2’ is asking and answering “Can
this sequence of phones be an onset in English?”
◮ To answer this question, either:
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Finding the Onsets
◮ A major part of ‘Step 2’ is asking and answering “Can
this sequence of phones be an onset in English?”
◮ To answer this question, either:
◮ Use your own knowledge as a native speaker (if you
are one)
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Finding the Onsets
◮ A major part of ‘Step 2’ is asking and answering “Can
this sequence of phones be an onset in English?”
◮ To answer this question, either:
◮ Use your own knowledge as a native speaker (if you
are one)
◮ Team up with a friend who is a native speaker (if you
aren’t one)
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Finding the Onsets
◮ A major part of ‘Step 2’ is asking and answering “Can
this sequence of phones be an onset in English?”
◮ To answer this question, either:
◮ Use your own knowledge as a native speaker (if you
are one)
◮ Team up with a friend who is a native speaker (if you
aren’t one)
◮ In either case, the question to ask (yourself or
others) is “Can a word of English start with this
sequence of phones?”
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 3: Label the Codas
Step 3:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up the
remaining unlabeled phones following a nucleus, and label
them as a coda.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 3: Label the Codas
Step 3:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up the
remaining unlabeled phones following a nucleus, and label
them as a coda.
◮ Look at the consonants following each ‘N’ (that aren’t
already labeled as ‘O’s)
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 3: Label the Codas
Step 3:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up the
remaining unlabeled phones following a nucleus, and label
them as a coda.
◮ Look at the consonants following each ‘N’ (that aren’t
already labeled as ‘O’s)
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be a coda.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 3: Label the Codas
Step 3:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up the
remaining unlabeled phones following a nucleus, and label
them as a coda.
◮ Look at the consonants following each ‘N’ (that aren’t
already labeled as ‘O’s)
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be a coda.
◮ Write a ‘C’ above that sequence and connect each phone
to that ‘C’ with a line.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 3: Label the Codas
Step 3:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up the
remaining unlabeled phones following a nucleus, and label
them as a coda.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants following each ‘N’ (that aren’t
already labeled as ‘O’s)
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be a coda.
◮ Write a ‘C’ above that sequence and connect each phone
to that ‘C’ with a line.
N
æ
O
d
N
A ô
O
t
N
A
O
g l
N
i
O
t
N
æ g
O
n
N
I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 3: Label the Codas
Step 3:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up the
remaining unlabeled phones following a nucleus, and label
them as a coda.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants following each ‘N’ (that aren’t
already labeled as ‘O’s)
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be a coda.
◮ Write a ‘C’ above that sequence and connect each phone
to that ‘C’ with a line.
N
æ
O
d
N
A
C
ô
O
t
N
A
O
g l
N
i
O
t
N
æ g
O
n
N
I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 3: Label the Codas
Step 3:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up the
remaining unlabeled phones following a nucleus, and label
them as a coda.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants following each ‘N’ (that aren’t
already labeled as ‘O’s)
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be a coda.
◮ Write a ‘C’ above that sequence and connect each phone
to that ‘C’ with a line.
N
æ
O
d
N
A
C
ô
O
t
N
A
O
g l
N
i
O
t
N
æ
C
g
O
n
N
I s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 3: Label the Codas
Step 3:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up the
remaining unlabeled phones following a nucleus, and label
them as a coda.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants following each ‘N’ (that aren’t
already labeled as ‘O’s)
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be a coda.
◮ Write a ‘C’ above that sequence and connect each phone
to that ‘C’ with a line.
N
æ
O
d
N
A
C
ô
O
t
N
A
O
g l
N
i
O
t
N
æ
C
g
O
n
N
I
C
s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 3: Label the Codas
Step 3:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up the
remaining unlabeled phones following a nucleus, and label
them as a coda.
O
b
◮ Look at the consonants following each ‘N’ (that aren’t
already labeled as ‘O’s)
◮ Find the largest continuous sequence that English
phonotactics allows to be a coda.
◮ Write a ‘C’ above that sequence and connect each phone
to that ‘C’ with a line.
N
æ
O
d
N
A
C
ô
O
t
N
A
O
g l
◮ [sp] is a possible coda of English (e.g. [k2sp])
N
i
O
t
N
æ
C
g
O
n
N
I
C
s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Finding the Codas
◮ As with Step 2, a major part of ‘Step 3’ is the
question “Can this sequence of phones be a coda in
English?”
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Finding the Codas
◮ As with Step 2, a major part of ‘Step 3’ is the
question “Can this sequence of phones be a coda in
English?”
◮ To answer this question, either:
◮ Use your own knowledge as a native speaker (if you
are one)
◮ Team up with a friend who is a native speaker (if you
aren’t one)
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Finding the Codas
◮ As with Step 2, a major part of ‘Step 3’ is the
question “Can this sequence of phones be a coda in
English?”
◮ To answer this question, either:
◮ Use your own knowledge as a native speaker (if you
are one)
◮ Team up with a friend who is a native speaker (if you
aren’t one)
◮ In either case, the question to ask (yourself or
others) is “Can a word of English end with this
sequence of phones?”
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 4: Add the Syllable Lablels
Step 4:
Group together the ‘O’s, ‘N’s and ‘C’s into syllables.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 4: Add the Syllable Lablels
Step 4:
Group together the ‘O’s, ‘N’s and ‘C’s into syllables.
◮ Above each N, write a ‘σ’ (for syllable), and draw a line
connecting them.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 4: Add the Syllable Lablels
Step 4:
Group together the ‘O’s, ‘N’s and ‘C’s into syllables.
◮ Above each N, write a ‘σ’ (for syllable), and draw a line
connecting them.
◮ If there is an O preceding an N, connect that O to the σ
that N is connected to.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 4: Add the Syllable Lablels
Step 4:
Group together the ‘O’s, ‘N’s and ‘C’s into syllables.
◮ Above each N, write a ‘σ’ (for syllable), and draw a line
connecting them.
◮ If there is an O preceding an N, connect that O to the σ
that N is connected to.
◮ If there is a C following an N, connect that C to the σ that
the N is connected to
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 4: Add the Syllable Lablels
Step 4:
Group together the ‘O’s, ‘N’s and ‘C’s into syllables.
O
b
◮ Above each N, write a ‘σ’ (for syllable), and draw a line
connecting them.
◮ If there is an O preceding an N, connect that O to the σ
that N is connected to.
◮ If there is a C following an N, connect that C to the σ that
the N is connected to
N
æ
O
d
N
A
C
ô
O
t
N
A
O
g l
N
i
O
t
N
æ
C
g
O
n
N
I
C
s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 4: Add the Syllable Lablels
Step 4:
Group together the ‘O’s, ‘N’s and ‘C’s into syllables.
O
b
◮ Above each N, write a ‘σ’ (for syllable), and draw a line
connecting them.
◮ If there is an O preceding an N, connect that O to the σ
that N is connected to.
◮ If there is a C following an N, connect that C to the σ that
the N is connected to
σ
N
æ
O
d
σ
N
A
C
ô
O
t
σ
N
A
O
g l
σ
N
i
O
t
σ
N
æ
C
g
O
n
σ
N
I
C
s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 4: Add the Syllable Lablels
Step 4:
Group together the ‘O’s, ‘N’s and ‘C’s into syllables.
◮ Above each N, write a ‘σ’ (for syllable), and draw a line
connecting them.
◮ If there is an O preceding an N, connect that O to the σ
that N is connected to.
◮ If there is a C following an N, connect that C to the σ that
the N is connected to
σ
σ
b æ d A
ô
σ
O N O N C O N
t
A
O
g l
σ
N
i
t
σ
æ
g
σ
O N C O N
n
I
C
s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Step 4: Add the Syllable Lablels
Step 4:
Group together the ‘O’s, ‘N’s and ‘C’s into syllables.
◮ Above each N, write a ‘σ’ (for syllable), and draw a line
connecting them.
◮ If there is an O preceding an N, connect that O to the σ
that N is connected to.
◮ If there is a C following an N, connect that C to the σ that
the N is connected to
σ
σ
b æ d A ô
σ
O N O N C O N
t
A
O
g l
σ
N
i
t
σ
æ g
σ
O N C O N
n
I
C
s p
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Study Exercise:
◮ At home, try running this procedure on the following
words:
◮ [2nd1ôstændiN] (“understanding”)
◮ [pEptow bIzmAl] (“Pepto Bismol”)
◮ [b2lowni] (“Bologna”)
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Study Exercise:
◮ At home, try running this procedure on the following
words:
◮ [2nd1ôstændiN] (“understanding”)
◮ [pEptow bIzmAl] (“Pepto Bismol”)
◮ [b2lowni] (“Bologna”)
◮ Confirm that our rule will predict the correct
syllabification for these words.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Summing Up
What We’ve Done So Far:
◮ We’ve laid out a rule (procedure, algorithm) that will
correctly syllabify 99% of English words.
◮ This rule, then, is one (very small) part of an answer
to our ‘fundamental question’.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Summing Up
What We’ve Done So Far:
◮ We’ve laid out a rule (procedure, algorithm) that will
correctly syllabify 99% of English words.
◮ This rule, then, is one (very small) part of an answer
to our ‘fundamental question’.
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?
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Step 1: Label Nuclei
Step 2: Label Onsets
Step 3: Label Codas
Step 4: Group Into Syllables
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Problem: Syllabic Consonants
But, there’s a problem for our syllabification rule...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Problem: Syllabic Consonants
But, there’s a problem for our syllabification rule...
◮ If we follow this rule, the only possible nuclei we will
get will be vowels
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Problem: Syllabic Consonants
But, there’s a problem for our syllabification rule...
◮ If we follow this rule, the only possible nuclei we will
get will be vowels
◮ However, although every vowel is a nucleus...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Problem: Syllabic Consonants
But, there’s a problem for our syllabification rule...
◮ 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
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabic Consonants in English
Key Fact:
The consonants [l], [n], and [ô], can be nuclei in English.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabic Consonants in English
Key Fact:
The consonants [l], [n], and [ô], can be nuclei in English.
Words With Consonants as Syllabic Nuclei:
◮ “kitten” [kI . tn]
◮ “cuddle” [k2 . dl]
◮ “banner” [bæ . nô]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

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

Syllabic Consonants in English
Key Fact:
The consonants [l], [n], and [ô], can be nuclei in English.
Words With Consonants as Syllabic Nuclei:
◮ “kitten” [kI . tn]
◮ “cuddle” [k2 . dl]
◮ “banner” [bæ . nô]
Question: Why do we say they are the nucleus of a syllable?
Answer: We hear these words as having two syllables...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabic Consonants in English
Key Fact:
The consonants [l], [n], and [ô], can be nuclei in English.
Words With Consonants as Syllabic Nuclei:
◮ “kitten” [kI . tn]
◮ “cuddle” [k2 . dl]
◮ “banner” [bæ . nô]
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.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabic Consonants in English
Key Fact:
The consonants [l], [n], and [ô], can be nuclei in English.
Words With Consonants as Syllabic Nuclei:
◮ “kitten” [kI . tn]
◮ “cuddle” [k2 . dl]
◮ “banner” [bæ . nô]
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.
◮ With “kitten” and “cuddle”, your tongue never leaves the
alveolar ridge after [t]/[d].
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabic Consonants in English
Key Fact:
The consonants [l], [n], and [ô], can be nuclei in English.
Words With Consonants as Syllabic Nuclei:
◮ “kitten” [kI . tn]
◮ “cuddle” [k2 . dl]
◮ “banner” [bæ . nô]
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.
◮ With “kitten” and “cuddle”, your tongue never leaves the
alveolar ridge after [t]/[d].
◮ With “banner”, you go immediately from [n] to [ô], with no
real intervening vowel.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabic Consonants in English
Vocabulary:
When a consonant serves as a syllabic nucleus, it is said
to be a syllabic consonant
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabic Consonants in English
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:
◮ “kitten” [ kI . tn " ]
◮ “cuddle” [ k2 . dl " ]
◮ “banner” [ bæ . nô " ]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabic Consonants in English
Given all this, it seems that the real syllabification rule for
English produces (outputs) representations like the
following:
k
σ
I
σ
O N O N
t
n "
k
σ
2
σ
O N O N
d
l "
σ
σ
O N O N
b æ n ô
"
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabic Consonants in English
Given all this, it seems that the real syllabification rule for
English produces (outputs) representations like the
following:
k
σ
I
σ
O N O N
t
n "
The Problem:
k
σ
2
σ
O N O N
d
l "
σ
σ
O N O N
b æ n ô
"
◮ Our current rule will clearly not make representations
like this...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabic Consonants in English
Given all this, it seems that the real syllabification rule for
English produces (outputs) representations like the
following:
k
σ
I
σ
O N O N
t
n "
The Problem:
k
σ
2
σ
O N O N
d
l "
σ
σ
O N O N
b æ n ô
"
◮ Our current rule will clearly not make representations
like this...
◮ so, we have to fix our rule...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Syllabic Consonants in English
Given all this, it seems that the real syllabification rule for
English produces (outputs) representations like the
following:
k
σ
I
σ
O N O N
t
n "
The Problem:
k
σ
2
σ
O N O N
d
l "
σ
σ
O N O N
b æ n ô
"
◮ Our current rule will clearly not make representations
like this...
◮ so, we have to fix our rule...
◮ ... but it goes beyond ‘201’ to explain how...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

One Last Mystery
But, remember the question which prompted us to
develop our ‘syllabification algorithm’:
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

One Last Mystery
But, remember the question which prompted us to
develop our ‘syllabification algorithm’:
Question:
Why don’t we syllabify “bologna” like this: *[b2l . own . i]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

One Last Mystery
But, remember the question which prompted us to
develop our ‘syllabification algorithm’:
Question:
Why don’t we syllabify “bologna” like this: *[b2l . own . i]
◮ This syllabification is totally consistent with English
phonotactics.
◮ [b2l] is a possible English syllable
◮ [own] is a possible English syllable
◮ [i] is a possible English syllable
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

One Last Mystery
But, remember the question which prompted us to
develop our ‘syllabification algorithm’:
Question:
Why don’t we syllabify “bologna” like this: *[b2l . own . i]
◮ This syllabification is totally consistent with English
phonotactics.
◮ [b2l] is a possible English syllable
◮ [own] is a possible English syllable
◮ [i] is a possible English syllable
The answer actually comes from an important (but so far
unnoticed) detail of our algorithm...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Onsets Over Codas
A Prediction of Our Algorithm:
If the phonotactic constraints would allow a consonant to be
either an onset or a coda, then it will be an onset.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Onsets Over Codas
A Prediction of Our Algorithm:
If the phonotactic constraints would allow a consonant to be
either an onset or a coda, then it will be an onset.
◮ [b2 . low . ni], not *[b2l . own . i]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Onsets Over Codas
A Prediction of Our Algorithm:
If the phonotactic constraints would allow a consonant to be
either an onset or a coda, then it will be an onset.
◮ [b2 . low . ni], not *[b2l . own . i]
Question: How, exactly, does our algorithm predict this?
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Onsets Over Codas
A Prediction of Our Algorithm:
If the phonotactic constraints would allow a consonant to be
either an onset or a coda, then it will be an onset.
◮ [b2 . low . ni], not *[b2l . own . i]
Question: How, exactly, does our algorithm predict this?
Answer: Because our algorithm determines the onsets first.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Onsets Over Codas
A Prediction of Our Algorithm:
If the phonotactic constraints would allow a consonant to be
either an onset or a coda, then it will be an onset.
◮ [b2 . low . ni], not *[b2l . own . i]
Question: How, exactly, does our algorithm predict this?
Answer: Because our algorithm determines the onsets first.
◮ Step 2:
Gather up all the consonants that can form an onset, and
label them as such.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Onsets Over Codas
A Prediction of Our Algorithm:
If the phonotactic constraints would allow a consonant to be
either an onset or a coda, then it will be an onset.
◮ [b2 . low . ni], not *[b2l . own . i]
Question: How, exactly, does our algorithm predict this?
Answer: Because our algorithm 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.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Onsets Over Codas
A Prediction of Our Algorithm:
If the phonotactic constraints would allow a consonant to be
either an onset or a coda, then it will be an onset.
◮ [b2 . low . ni], not *[b2l . own . i]
Question: How, exactly, does our algorithm predict this?
Answer: Because our algorithm 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...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Onsets Over Codas
A Prediction of Our Algorithm:
If the phonotactic constraints would allow a consonant to be
either an onset or a coda, then it will be an onset.
◮ [b2 . low . ni], not *[b2l . own . i]
Question: How, exactly, does our algorithm predict this?
Answer: Because our algorithm 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 couldn’t form onsets...
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Illustrative Derivation
Let’s see in detail how this works, by using our algorithm
to syllabify “bologna”
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Illustrative Derivation
Let’s see in detail how this works, by using our algorithm
to syllabify “bologna”
Step 1:
Label every vowel as a nucleus.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Illustrative Derivation
Let’s see in detail how this works, by using our algorithm
to syllabify “bologna”
Step 1:
Label every vowel as a nucleus.
b 2 l ow n i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Illustrative Derivation
Let’s see in detail how this works, by using our algorithm
to syllabify “bologna”
Step 1:
Label every vowel as a nucleus.
b
N
2 l
N
ow n
N
i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Illustrative Derivation
Let’s see in detail how this works, by using our algorithm
to syllabify “bologna”
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
b
N
2 l
N
ow n
N
i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Illustrative Derivation
Let’s see in detail how this works, by using our algorithm
to syllabify “bologna”
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
O
b
N
2
O
l
N
ow
O
n
N
i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Illustrative Derivation
Let’s see in detail how this works, by using our algorithm
to syllabify “bologna”
Step 2:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up all the
phones preceding a nucleus, and label them as an onset.
O
b
N
2
O
l
N
ow
◮ Notice that on this step, we are forced to group [l] and [n]
as onsets
◮ The rule won’t let us “wait” to Step 3 to group them as
codas
O
n
N
i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Illustrative Derivation
Let’s see in detail how this works, by using our algorithm
to syllabify “bologna”
Step 3:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up the
remaining unlabeled phones following a nucleus, and label
them as a coda.
O
b
N
2
O
l
N
ow
O
n
N
i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Illustrative Derivation
Let’s see in detail how this works, by using our algorithm
to syllabify “bologna”
Step 3:
To the extent allowed by the phonotactics, gather up the
remaining unlabeled phones following a nucleus, and label
them as a coda.
O
b
N
2
O
l
N
ow
◮ Nothing happens at this step, since there are no
‘remaining unlabeled phones’.
O
n
N
i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Illustrative Derivation
Let’s see in detail how this works, by using our algorithm
to syllabify “bologna”
Step 4:
Group together the ‘O’s, ‘N’s and ‘C’s into syllables.
O
b
N
2
O
l
N
ow
O
n
N
i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Illustrative Derivation
Let’s see in detail how this works, by using our algorithm
to syllabify “bologna”
Step 4:
Group together the ‘O’s, ‘N’s and ‘C’s into syllables.
O
b
σ
N
2
O
l
σ
N
ow
O
n
σ
N
i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Illustrative Derivation
Let’s see in detail how this works, by using our algorithm
to syllabify “bologna”
Step 4:
Group together the ‘O’s, ‘N’s and ‘C’s into syllables.
b
σ
2
σ
O N O N
σ
O N
l ow n i
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Summing Up:
◮ There is a general ‘preference’ for consonants to be
onsets, rather than codas.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Summing Up:
◮ There is a general ‘preference’ for consonants to be
onsets, rather than codas.
◮ That is, if the phonotactics would allow a particular
consonant in some word to be either an onset or a
coda, then it will be an onset.
◮ [b2 . low . ni], not *[b2l . own . i]
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Summing Up:
◮ There is a general ‘preference’ for consonants to be
onsets, rather than codas.
◮ That is, if the phonotactics would allow a particular
consonant in some word to be either an onset or a
coda, then it will be an onset.
◮ [b2 . low . ni], not *[b2l . own . i]
◮ Our syllabification algorithm captures this fact, by
ordering the labeling of onsets before the labeling of
codas.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas

Summing Up:
◮ There is a general ‘preference’ for consonants to be
onsets, rather than codas.
◮ That is, if the phonotactics would allow a particular
consonant in some word to be either an onset or a
coda, then it will be an onset.
◮ [b2 . low . ni], not *[b2l . own . i]
◮ Our syllabification algorithm captures this fact, by
ordering the labeling of onsets before the labeling of
codas.
◮ This way, the codas will only be made out of those
consonants that couldn’t be onsets.
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Supplementary
Readings
Introduction and
IPA Practice
The Basics of
Syllables
Syllables and
Phonotactics
Syllabification Rule
Syllabic
Consonants
Onsets Over
Codas