Graphic characteristics of the syllable

The auditory image of a syllable can be shown in transcription: unknown / n-nə un/, liner /'lan-ə /, maker /'meik-ə /. Parts of orthographic and phonetic syllables do not always coincide. E. g.

It is very important to observe correct syllable division when necessity arises to divide a word in writing. Division of words into syllables in writing (syllabographs) is based on morphological principles. The morphological principle of word division in orthography demands that the part of a word, which is separated, should be either a prefix, or a suffix, or a root (morphograph): un-divided, utter-ance, pun-ish, be-fore.

However, if there are two or three consonants before -ing, these consonants may be separated in writing, e. g. gras-ping, puz-zling.

Words can be divided in writing according to their syllabic structure, e. g. un-kind-li-ness. They can also be divided according to their meaning, e.g. spot-light.

There are six rules to help with dividing a word in writing:

1) Never divide a word within a syllable.

2) Never divide an ending (a suffix) of two syllables such as -able, -ably, -fully.

3) With the exception of -ly, never divide a word so that an ending of two letters such as -ed, -er, -ic begins the next line.

4) Never divide a word so that one of the parts is a single letter.

5) Never divide a word of one syllable.

6) Never divide a word of less than five letters.

If we compare the system of syllable division and syllable formation in Russian and in English, we can draw the following conclusions:

1) Similar syllabic structural types can be found in both languages.

2) In Russian the single intervocal consonant between two phonetic syllables belongs to the next vowel; in English — to the preceding one.

morning /m n-niŋ)/ — мо-ре city /sit-i/ — си-ти

cozy /kouz-i/ — во-ля pity /pit-i/ — Пе-ти

occasion /ə '-кеi -^эn/ — во-ло-ком

There is a tendency in the Russian language to accomplish syllable division before a sound of minimal sonority, e. g. тол-па, мор-ской, конь-ки, боч-ка, etc.

3) All consonants may begin a syllable in English, the only exception is the sound /ŋ /. In the system of the Russian language all consonants may begin a syllable (ы — initial is an exception).

4) The structure of the Russian syllable is characterized by more complex initial clusters. The structure of the English syllable is characterized by more complex final clusters.

5) Initial CCCC type clusters constitute syllables only in Russian.

6) Russian words of foreign origin with the suffixes -ция, -ия, corresponding to English words with the suffixes -tion, -y, have one extra syllable: революция — revolution, тенденция — tendency.

7) English diphthongs belong to one syllable, triphthongs may be divided into two parts.