25. Склад як невід’ємна частина слова (The syllable as an integral part of the word).

The syllable is a group of sounds that are pronounced together. The problem of the syllabic structure of words has two aspects:

1) syllable formation

2) syllable division/separation.

Articulatorily the syllable is the minimal articulatory unit of the utterance.

Auditorily the syllable is the smallest unit of perception.

Phonologically it is a structural unit which consists of a sequence of one or some phonemes of a language in numbers and arrangements permitted by the given language.

Phonologically it performs three functions:

1. The constitutive function: syllables constitute words through the combination of their stress- loudness, duration-length, pitch-tone. E.g.: ˏconstiˊtution.

2. The distinctive function: the difference in the place of a syllabic boundary differentiates the meanings of the words and phrases: e.g. my 'train — might 'rain.

3. The identificatory function: the listener can understand the exact meaning of the utterance only when the correct syllabic boundary is perceived: e.g. peace talks – pea stalks.

26. Типи складів в англійській мові за розміщенням голосних і приголосних (Types of the syllables in English according to the placement of vowels and consonants)

According to the placement of vowels and consonants the following types of syllables are distinguished:

1. According to the placement of vowels we have open and closed syllables.

1. Open syllables. In open syllables the vowel is at the end. Such a syllable is articulated with the opening of the mouth by the end: e.g. they, wri-ter;

2. Closed syllables. Closed syllables end in a consonant or consonants. At the end of such a syllable the mouth is closed: e.g. hun-dred, hat.

The commonest types of the syllable in English are VC (a vowel and a consonant); CVC (a consonant, a vowel, a consonant). E.g.: it, on, cat, big, etc.

Most of the words of old English origin are of one syllable. The limit for the number of syllables in a word in English is 8, e.g. incomprehensibility.

27. Типи складів в англійській мові за положенням у слові (Types of the syllables in English according to the position in a word)

Syllables can be also designated: by the position in a word and by the position in relation to stress.

1) By the position in the word we distinguish:

from the beginning - INITIAL, MEDIAL, FINAL , e.g.:

tre - men - dous

initial medial final

from the end - ULTIMATE (останній), PENULTIMATE (передостанній/другий від кінця), ANTEPENULTIMATE (третій від кінця), e.g.

tre - men - dous

antepenultimate penultimate ultimate 2) by the position in relation to stress:

PRETONIC, TONIC, POSTTONIC (Any syllable which is not tonic is ATONIC/ненаголошений).

e.g. tre - men - dous

pretonic tonic posttonic

28. Природа словесного наголосу в англійській мові (The nature of English word stress)

Word stress is singling out of one or more syllables in a word, which is accompanied by the change of the force of utterance, pitch of the voice, qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the sound which is usually a vowel.

The analysis of word stress can be carried out according to the following parameters:

1) the nature of English word-stress;

2) its degree and syllabic location;

3) its functions;

4) basic stress patterns of the English words.

Phoneticians state that at least four different factors are important in making a syllable prominent. They are: loudness, length of the syllable, pitch and quality.

1) If one of the syllables in the ‘nonsense’ word ba: ba: ba: ba: is made louder, that syllable is stressed;

2) If one of the syllables in the above-given ‘nonsense’ word ba: ba: ba: ba: is made longer, that syllable is stressed;

3) If one of the syllables in the ‘nonsense’ word ba: ba: ba: ba: is said with high pitch, that syllable is stressed;

4) If one of the vowels in the ‘nonsense word’ is changed, e.g. ba: bi: ba: ba, the ‘odd’ syllable bi: will be heard as stressed.

In sum, pitch, loudness, and duration and quality make a syllable prominent in a word.