SYLLABLES

We pronounce (speak) words through sounds. These sounds are carried by vowels and consonants. We know that vowels are the very soul of a language. No word can be formed without a vowel-sound. But a word may have two or more vowels. Each vowel is generally attached to one or two consonants. These consonants and the vowel attached to them form a unit of pronunciation. This unit is called a syllable. Remember that a syllable may be a complete word in itself; as-

a                 so                cat               sky               but              lot

or may form a part of a word. In this case, the word may have more syllables; as-

     a)     sis     -   ter    b) hap – py           c) vo - wel

       1          2            1      2                 1      2

    a) un – der – stand   b)yes – ter – day  c) in – tel – li - gent

        1       2         3           1       2      3        1     2     3      4                 

    d) in – ter – nation – al – ism

         1     2         3         4       5

     What is a syllable?

A syllable is the smallest unit of pronunciation forming a complete word or part of a word.                       

Activity:

Syllabicate the following words:

   

    a)     father

    b)    crocodile

    c)     pronunciation

    d)    holiday

    e)     re-commendatory