Syllabic Pronunciation Essay

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The phonemic status of syllabic consonants is controversial. It has been debated whether to consider the syllabic consonant as the peak of a syllable (Cruttenden, 2001) or non-phonemic segment; derived form of a schwa plus a non-syllabic consonant (Wells, 2016). These notions rest on the assumption of the nature of the syllable, one focuses on non-linear sonority approach and the other linear approach (Goldsmith, Riggle & Alan 2011). This essay attempts to explore the diachronic behavior of syllabic consonants, present its current phonological status and offer an opinion regarding its complex nature. A diachronic perspective of the syllabicity of consonants would shed some light on its controversial existence. Jones (2008) defined syllabic …show more content…

This does not negate the importance of the laborious work required from phonologists. Various attempts were made to investigate into the nature of syllabic consonants. The buzzling behavior of syllabic consonants is manifested in different ways. For instance, Syllabic consonants without an inserted schwa can be evident in some cases as in bottle and button, but it is not in national [/næʃn̩l̩/, /ˈnaʃənəl/]. What Roach (2005) has proposed as optional and obligatory syllabic consonant can solve the discrepancies between pronunciation and theory, but this distinction does not address the phonemic identity of syllabic consonants; it merely categorizes. Similarly, the linear approach of Wells (1995) can help in understanding the nature of syllabic consonants, but it falls short in offering a unified explanation. In most cases, sonority approach can resolve the issue of the formation of syllabic consonants. Finally, it can be said that to understand syllabic consonants a thorough study of the structure of the syllable is a prerequisite. Different approaches to the syllable result in different approaches to syllabic

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