Rules and Examples of Onset in English Syllables
The term 'onset' in English syllables refers to the initial part of a syllable, which can vary from zero consonants to a maximum of three. This text provides rules and examples of onset patterns, including permissible consonant clusters and zero-onset cases. It also presents initial CC cluster patterns and details on specific consonant sequences in English syllables. Explore the complexities of onset structure and examples in English pronunciation.
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Presentation Transcript
Onset The term, 'onset' refers to the first part of a syllable. In English this may be zero (when no consonant precedes the vowel in a syllable), one consonant, two or three (Roach, 2002: 53). Gimson (1989: 243-45) suggests several rules, as shown below: No more than three consonant clusters are permitted at the beginning of a word. A case of zero-onset is possible in some words, as in art, old, etc. The consonant clusters /spw-/, /stl-/ and /stw-/ do not occur in English.
The name of the bird smew/smju:/ provides a single example of the initial sequence /smj-/. When /j/ occurs in the normal initial position after a consonant and before a peak, it occurs only before /u:/ and /u /, as in new /nju:/ and cure /kju (r).
The initial possible CC clusters patterns are as follows: /p/+ /l/, /r/, /j/, as in play, pride and pure. /t/+ /r/, /j/, /w/, such as true, turn, and twin. /k/+ /l/, /r/, /j/, /w/, i.e., clear, cry, cure and quick. /b/+ /l/, /r/, /j/, like blue, break and bureau. /d/+ /r/, /j/, /w/, e.g., dry, due and dwell. /g/+ /l/, /r/, /w/, as in glow, green and guava. /m/+ /j/, such as mute.
/n/+ /j/, e.g., new. /l/+ /j/, as in lure. /f/+ /l/, /r/, /j/, such as flower, friend and few. /v/+ /j/, like view. / /+ /r/, as in through. /s/+ /l/, /w/, /p/, /t/, /k/, /m/, /n/, /f/, e.g., slow, swear, spy, stick, sky, smart, snow and sphere. / /+ /r/, like shrink. /h/+ /j/, as in huge.
/s/ is the only English consonant that can occur before all vowels (Internet Ref. No. 7). A syllable may end with the sequence nd, but it cannot start with it (Dalton and Seidhofer, 1994: 36). All the consonants occur as the first element in the initial two-element consonant clusters except /z, r, d , , and / (ibid.).
