Heavy syllable: Difference between revisions
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A '''heavy syllable''' is a [[syllable]] | A '''heavy syllable''' is a [[syllable]] whose [[syllable weight|weight]] is more than one [[mora]]. A heavy syllable contains either a long vowel or a [[coda]] consonant. (The latter case is called a [[closed syllable]].) The English words ''eye'' [aɪ] and ''cat'' [kat] exemplify the two types of heavy syllable. A syllable shorter than a heavy syllable is called a [[light syllable]]. | ||
Sometimes a syllable which is longer than two moras is called a [[superheavy syllable]]. Such a syllable contains either a long vowel ''and'' a coda consonant, or a short vowel and two coda consonants. | Sometimes a syllable which is longer than two moras is called a [[superheavy syllable]]. Such a syllable contains either a long vowel ''and'' a coda consonant, or a short vowel and two coda consonants. | ||
In some languages (e.g., in English), word-final consonants do not contribute to syllable weight. The last syllable of the verb ''develop'' behaves as if light (although it is a closed syllable). This phenomenon is standardly explained by claiming that the word-final consonant is [[extrametricality|extrametrical]]. | In some languages (e.g., in English), word-final consonants do not contribute to syllable weight. The last syllable of the verb ''develop'' behaves as if light (although it is a closed syllable). This phenomenon is standardly explained by claiming that the word-final consonant is [[extrametricality|extrametrical]]. | ||
===Other languages=== | |||
German [[schwere Silbe]] | |||
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[[Category:Phonetics and phonology]] | |||
Revision as of 06:28, 23 October 2007
A heavy syllable is a syllable whose weight is more than one mora. A heavy syllable contains either a long vowel or a coda consonant. (The latter case is called a closed syllable.) The English words eye [aɪ] and cat [kat] exemplify the two types of heavy syllable. A syllable shorter than a heavy syllable is called a light syllable.
Sometimes a syllable which is longer than two moras is called a superheavy syllable. Such a syllable contains either a long vowel and a coda consonant, or a short vowel and two coda consonants.
In some languages (e.g., in English), word-final consonants do not contribute to syllable weight. The last syllable of the verb develop behaves as if light (although it is a closed syllable). This phenomenon is standardly explained by claiming that the word-final consonant is extrametrical.
Other languages
German schwere Silbe