Structure
In most theories of phonology, the general structure of a syllable (σ) consists of three segments:
- Onset (ω)
- consonant, obligatory in some languages, optional or even restricted in others
- Nucleus (ν)
- sonorant, obligatory in most languages
- Coda (κ)
- consonant, optional in some languages, highly restricted or prohibited in others
The syllable is usually considered right-branching, i.e. nucleus and coda are grouped together as a "rime" and are only distinguished at the second level. However, in some traditional descriptions of certain languages, the syllable is considered left-branching, i.e. onset and nucleus group below a higher-level unit, called a "body" or "core":
- Rime (ρ)
- right branch, contrasts with onset, splits into nucleus and coda
- Body or core
- left branch, contrasts with coda, splits into onset and nucleus
In some theories the onset is strictly consonantal, thus necessitating another segment before the nucleus:
- Initial (ι)
- often termed onset, but leaving out semi-vowels
- Medial (μ)
- glide between initial, if any, and nucleus or rime
- Final (φ)
- contrasts with initial, extended rime
Although every syllable has supra-segmental features, these are usually ignored if not semantically relevant, e.g. in tonal languages.
- Tone (τ)
- may be carried by the syllable as a whole or by the rime
In some theories of phonology, these syllable structures are displayed as tree diagrams (similar to the trees found in some types of syntax). Not all phonologists agree that syllables have internal structure; in fact, some phonologists doubt the existence of the syllable as a theoretical entity.
The nucleus is usually the vowel in the middle of a syllable. The onset is the sound or sounds occurring before the nucleus, and the coda (literally 'tail') is the sound or sounds that follow the nucleus. They are sometimes collectively known as the shell. The term rime covers the nucleus plus coda. In the one-syllable English word cat, the nucleus is a (the sound that can be shouted or sung on its own), the onset c, the coda t, and the rime at. This syllable can be abstracted as a consonant-vowel-consonant syllable, abbreviated CVC. Languages vary greatly in the restrictions on the sounds making up the onset, nucleus and coda of a syllable, according to what is termed a language's phonotactics.
Read more about this topic: Syllable Rime
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