Chapter 9 Strong and Weak Syllables

1. Chapter 9Strong and Weak Syllables Week 8 03.10.2013

2. Strong and Weak Syllables • What do we mean by strong and weak? • How to identify a weak syllable? • The vowel ‘schwa’ • a. features of the vowel schwa • 3. Close front and close back vowels • 4. Syllabic consonants • a. Syllabic l • b. Syllabic n • c. Syllabic ŋ • d. Syllabic r Outline

3. Strength and weakness is one of many features of the English syllable. • What do we mean by “strong” and “weak” syllables? • When we compare weak syllables with strong syllables we find that the VOWEL in weak syllables tends to be.. • Shorter 2. lower intensity (loudness) 3. different in quality • Another way is in terms of stress: • Strong syllable  stressed  has a long vowel as its peak • Weak syllable  unstressed  has a short vowel as its peak Strong and Weak Syllables Page 64

4. Data /deItϑ/ • The second syllable is the weak syllable… • Shorter than the first • Less loud • Has a vowel that cannot occur in strong syllables Example Page 64

5. Weak syllables can only have one of a very small number of possible peaks • The vowel schwa • A close front unrounded vowel. In the general area of i:, I • A close back rounded vowel. In the general area of u:, υ Vowels that occur in weak syllables

6. Most frequently occurring vowel. • Always associated with weak syllables. • In quality it is mid and central. • It is not articulated with much energy. Described as lax The Schwa vowel Page 65

9. Other common vowels found in weak syllables are… • Close front unrounded I • Close back rounded u Close front and close back vowels

10. 1. Close Front Unrounded Final position, words spelt with ‘y’ or ‘ey’ Prefix such as ‘re’, ‘pre’, ‘de’ Suffixes spelt ‘ate’, ‘iou’ In the following words when unstressed, “me, be, he, she, the” Where are these vowels found?

11. 2. Close back rounded • Not so common • Frequently found in words such as “you, to, into” • When?  1. unstressed 2. Preceding a consonant • “through , who”  unstressed • Before another vowel within a word.

12. Syllables in which no vowel is found, a consonant either l, r, or a nasal stands as its peak A consonant is syllabic by a small vertical mark ( ) l, n, m, ŋ, r Read and highlight examples from the book Syllabic Consonants Page 68

13. Speaking

14. Procedure • Choose Partners • 2. Brainstorm Questions with Partners • 3. Speak:Get Ready, Get Set, START TALKING! • Rules: • Speak only English!  • Keep talking! Don’t stop!  • No dictionaries! 

15. Next Week Bring a copy of the handout Available at the webpage… www.schoolrack.com/ms_lujain