2. Types of syllables

As to the types of sounds consisting the syllable (vowel-V, consonant-C) there exist 23 syllable structures in English. Depending on the position of the vowel, which is the peak of the syllable, and that of the consonants, which form the margins of the syllable, we can distinguish the following types of syllables:

1) Open syllable – when there is no consonant after the vocalic peaks;

2) Closed syllable – when the vocalic peaks are followed by consonant;

3) Covered syllable – when the vocalic peak is preceded by a consonant;

4) Uncovered syllable – when there is no consonant before the peak.

Due to its structure the English language has developed the closed type of syllable as the fundamental one while in Russian it is the open type that forms the basis of syllable formation. The structure of the English syllable reveals variations in the number of pre-vocalic consonants from 1 to 3 and post-vocalic consonants from 1 to 5:

1. CVC – Fat

2. CVCC – Fact

3. CVCCC – Facts

4. CCVC – Place

5. CCCVC – Street

6. CCVCC – Speaks

7. CCVCCC – Sphinxs

8. CCCVCC – Streets

9. CCCVCCC – Strengths

10. CVCCC – Sixth

11. CCVCCCC – Spangles

12. CVCCCCC – Sixths

3. Structure of syllables

Every English syllable has a center or peak – a vowel or a sonorant. The peak may be preceded by one or more non-syllabic elements which constitute the onset of the syllable, and it maybe followed by one or more non-syllabic elements which constitute the coda, e.g. cat [kæt], tree [tri:], ice [aɪs].

In all subtypes vowels are the nucleus. There are syllables in English that consist only of the consonants. Syllables of this structure occur only in the word final position. This feature distinguishes English from other languages. In this type of ³syllables, it is the phonemes [l], [n], rarely [m] that form the syllables. There are three types:

1) Type CC. Syllable structure of this type consists of two vowels. The peak of the syllable is sonorant [l], [n] or [m]. The consonants are at the preposition to the peak of the syllable. The peak of the syllable formed by consonants [l] and [n] can be fricative. For instance, pencil [ˈpensl], table [ˈteɪbl], widen [ˈwaɪdn].

2) Type CCC. In this type of syllable, the peak of the syllable is sonant [n] and it stands between consonants. For instance, decedent [dɪˈsednt], servant [ˈsɜːvnt].

3) Type CCCC. In this type of syllable, the peak of the syllable formed by sonants [l], [n], [m] can occur after the first consonant, for instance, agents [ˈeɪʤnts], and after two consonants in the words “pistols” [pɪstlz], “functional”⁴ [fʌŋʃknl].

4. The peculiarities of the syllabic structure in English:

1. Syllabic boundary is inside the intervocalic consonant preceded by vowel (Betty, racket, monkey, hotter);

2. Syllabic boundary is before the intervocalic consonant if it isn’t preceded by the above mentioned vowels (later, speaker);

3. The sonorants [l], [m], [n] are syllabic if they are preceded by noise consonants (little, blossom, sudden);

4. There cannot be more than one vowel within one syllable;

5. The typical and most fundamental syllabic structure is of (C)VC type;

6. Word final consonants are normally weak-end type.

Part II