21. Syllable division

The sounds of language can be grouped into syllables according to the rules of phonotactics. The problem of syllable division exists only in case of intervocalic consonants and their clusters like in the words city, agree, extra, etc.

2 possible variants:

- the point of syllable division is after the intervocalic consonant;

- the point of syllable division is inside the consonant.

The words such as agree, abrupt should be divided into syllables in the following way: /ə-`gri:/, /ə-`br∆pt/ because combinations /gr/-/br/ are permissible initial clusters. On the other hand, there’re clusters that can never be found in the word initial position and consequently should be broken by syllabic boundary: admire /əd-`maıə/, abhor / əb-`ho:/.

In the cases where the number of intervocalic consonants is 3, as in the word extra we have to state the possible points

22. Difficulties in pronunciation of nouns, adj., etc

Nouns. The plural inflexion -s is pronounced like /z/ if the stam (основа) ends in a voiced consonant or a vowel. Inflexion -s is pronounced /s/ if the stam ends in a voiceless consonant. It is pronounced /ız/ if the stam ends in sounds /s/- /z/, /∫/ - /d3/. Inflexion -s is added to nouns, ending in letter ‘o’: hero – heroes. In some nouns the final /θ/ changes to /р/ in plural: mouth /θ/ – mouths /рz/; bath /θ/ – baths /рz/. In other nouns the final /θ/ remains unchanged in plural: death /θ/ – deaths /θs/. For some nouns ending in /θ/ in singular both variants /θs/ & /рz/ are correct: truth – truths; youth – youths. Some nouns which end in /θ/ in singular change into /v/: wolf /f/ – wolves /vz/. There’re some nouns in English which form their plural by changes in the root: man – men, etc.

Articles. ‘A’ is pronounced with a word beginning with a consonant, ‘an’ – with a word, beginning with a vowel. ‘The’ is pronounced /рə/ before words beginning with a consonant; /рi:/ before words beginning with a vowel.

Adjectives. In degrees of comparison the comparative inflexion -er of 1-syllable and 2-syllable adjectives ending in -yer, -ow, -ble is pronounced like /ə/ and -est is pronounced /ıst/ (tall – taller – the tallest). The final consonant of an adjective is doubled before the inflexions -er, -est, if it’s preceded by a short-stressed vowel to preserve a closed syllable (big – bigger – the biggest). More & most are analytical forms of degree of comparison. There’re some adjectives which have irregular forms (good – better – the best). There’re also adjectives which have 2 forms: far – farther – the farthest & far – further – the furthest; old – older – the oldest & old – elder – the eldest.

Numerals. Numerals 13-19 have 2 strong stresses. Numerals can be ordinal & cardinal. Ordinal=cardinal+th, except 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd. In fractions the numerator is a cardinal, the dominator – an ordinal, ending in -s. 5/6 – five sixths

23. Difficulties in pronunciation of verbs

The suffix -ing is pronounced like /ıŋ/. If the verb ends in sound /ı/ it should be pronounced clearly: studying /st∆dı-ıŋ/. There’re some verbs and nouns which have the same spelling, but the stress falls on different syllables. As a rule, on the 1^st syllable in nouns, and on the 2^nd syllable in verbs. Some verbs don’t have any difference from nouns: a look – to look.

There’re some verbs and nouns which have the same final consonant: to believe – a belief; to advise – advice; to excuse – an e