Syllable Structure & Word Stress (Lecture 4)

How do you map utterances?

C is assigned to all single consonants phonemes and V is assigned to all single vowel phonemes

When mapping CVCs, what should you do first?

Transcribe first, as it is easier when it is a 1:1 ratio

What is the CVC for the word "cat"?

kæt
CVC

What is the CVC for the word scratched?

skrætʃt
CCCVCC

What is the anatomy of a syllable?

Onset, Nucleus, Coda

Syllable anatomy - what is optional and what is mandatory?

onsets and coda are optional, but nucleus is mandatory

In a syllable, a ____ sound is mandatory

Vowel (one vowel alone or a vowel in combination with one of more consonants)

Explain the importance of a vowel

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

What is an open syllable?

An open syllable has an "unfilled" coda.

What is a closed syllable?

A closed syllable has a "filled" coda.

Is "eye" open or closed?

Open

Is "sun" open or closed?

Closed

Single syllable words with ____ codas can only end in the ____ vowel sounds

Open, 8 tense

What are the 8 tense vowel sounds in English?

/i, u, ɑ aɪ, aʊ, ɔɪ, eɪ, oʊ/

In single syllable words, lax vowels only appear in ____ syllables.

closed

What are the lax vowels in English?

/ɪ, ɛ, æ, ʊ, ʌ/

Is a schwa lax or tense?

A schwa is lax, but it is an exception. The schwa will appear in single syllable words with open codas, but only in spontaneous, continuous speech.

1 vowel sound for 1 ____

syllable

What is a diphthong?

A diphthong counts as one vowel sound, because it is phonemically perceived as one sound.

What is the CVC for the word "lie"? Is it open or closed?

/laɪ/
CV
Open coda

What is the CVC for the word "lime"? Is it open or closed?

/laɪm/
CVC
Closed coda

English phonotactics - how many consonants are allowed before a vowel?

(C)3

English phonotactics - how many consonants are allowed after a vowel?

(C)4

What word has (C)3 before the vowel and (C)4 after the vowel?

CCCVCCCC
/strɛŋkθs/
strengths

What is the maximum onset principle?

The Principle states that: "if a consonant or consonant cluster can appear in the onset of a syllable, it must appear in the onset of a syllable."

The Maximal Onset Principle relies on ____.

Phonotactics

When marking syllable divisions what should you ask yourself?

Is this an "allowable" cluster at the beginning of a syllable (or a word, if that helps you)?

When marking syllable divisions which way/direction should you work in?

Work backwards

What do we do with the rhotic vowels?

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

Canadian English speakers tend to keep rhotic vowels ____

Attached

Syllable Stress = ____

Lexical Stress

What is lexical stress?

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

The three possibilities for syllable stress

1. primary stress
2. secondary stress
3. weak stress

What is primary stress?

A monophthong/diphthong. The vowel in that stressed syllable is a little louder, a little longer, and a little higher pitch

What is secondary stress?

A monophthong/diphthong, but not as long or as loud

What is weak stress?

The schwa /ə/ almost disappears - often called the "reduced vowel"

Where is the stress in the word "inventory"?

INventory

Where is the stress in the word "lexicon"?

LEXicon

Where is the stress in the word "banana"?

BaNANa

How do you mark primary lexical stress?

By using the /'/ symbol in front of the first sound in the strong syllable

How do you mark secondary stress?

By using the /ˌ/ symbol

Spondees are useful words for audiologists to determine ____

Listening thresholds

What are an expection to marking stress?

Spondees

What are spondees?

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

The schwa is ____, ____, and ____ than vowels (nucleuses) in syllables with primary or secondary stress.

Quieter, shorter, lower pitch

What determines whether you use the strut vowel or the schwa vowel?

Syllable stress determines use, the schwa is always unstressed and the strut is always stressed

When there is a one syllable word, typically should you use the strut vowel or the schwa?

Always the strut for one syllable words

In the word above, which vowel is the strut and which is the schwa?

"a" would be the schwa vowel and "o" would be the strut vowel

The strut vowel is ___________ and _____________ and _________ than the schwa, but still quiet __________

clearer; louder; longer; short

What is the exception for using a schwa in a stress word?

At sentence level: single-syllable words are commonly reduced and unstressed in connected, spontaneous speech. These are sometimes called "function words."

When to use schwar vs nurse?

Syllable stress determines use. Schwar is always unstressed, while nurse is always stressed. "Nurse" is produced with slightly longer vowel length.

In the word "murder" which sound is the nurse vowel, which is the schwar?

"ur" is the nurse, "er" is the schwar