Theories on syllable formation and division

Theories on
syllable
formation
and division
Expiratory theory (R.N. Stetson)
Sonority theory
(O. Jespersen)
Theory of muscular tension
(L.V. Shcherba)
Loudness theory (N.I. Zhinkin)
Syllable division rules
The intervocalic
consonant belongs
to the short vowel
preceding it(pity)
The syllable boundary goes
through the consonant
(pity). In this case the sound
[t] belongs to both
• When two vowels are separated from each other by two consonants the point of
syllable division is often conditioned by whether this cluster occurs at the
beginning of English words or not. If it does , the point of syllable division is
before the cluster; if it does not, the syllabic boundary is between the
consonants(agree, admit)
• English diphthongs are unisyllabic, they consist of one vowel phoneme, English
triphthongs are disyllabic, because they consist of two vowel phonemes(science)