What is the Syllable?
Any part of a word that is pronounced together, that part of the word is called a Syllable.
Definition of Syllable in detail: A syllable is a unit of sound, which is saved between different parts of the word. It can be made up of letters and a word can consist of one or more syllables. A syllable is a verbal unit of pronunciation of a word, which is important for determining the phonetics and pronunciation of our language.
For example, the word “Bangla” has two syllables – “bang” and “la”. Syllables determine the verbal function in the phonetic arrangement of words and make up the overall pronunciation of the language.
In the English language, a syllable is an indivisible form of sound used to form a sentence. It can consist of one or more combinations of vowels, and combinations of letters. Generally the number of syllables in a word is more than the number of letters in the word. For example, the word “state” has four syllables (a-va-stha).
Why is syllable used in English?
The term syllable is used to denote a standard of pronunciation of words. It is used to pronounce words correctly or to divide words into sounds and vowels. For example, the word “com-pew-ter” has three syllables, meaning the word is divided into three sounds and vowels in pronunciation.
Different words can have different syllable structure and this is an important general criterion in language learning. Syllables are used as a suitable measuring device to determine the correctness of pronunciation and to improve the phonetic relationship of words.
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Syllables are units of sound that represent a particular part of speech. It refers to a category according to the phonetic structure and pronunciation of words. Syllables are divided into phonological units of words, which combine in pronunciation to form the full form of the word. About pronunciation of words Syllables help us to give correct pronunciation.
For example, the Bengali word “Pariksha” has three syllables – “Par”, “Ee”, “Ksha”. These three syllables together form the correct pronunciation of this word.
Syllable studies are used by language teachers when teaching students word pronunciation and are perfect for increasing pronunciation matching.
Types of Syllables
Although there are 4 types of syllables, there are 6 types of syllables in the structure and pronunciation of English.
Mono Syllable (One Syllable): The syllable that is only one word and pronounced only once is called Mono-Syllable or one syllable. For example: Girl, Boy, Cup, etc.
Di-Syllable (Two-Syllable): The syllable that has only two words and is pronounced twice is called Di-Syllable or two-syllable. For example: Teacher, Mother, Sister, etc.
Tri-Syllable: The syllable that has only three words and is pronounced three times is called Tri-Syllable or three-syllable. For example: Oc-to-ber, (English month name) Im-por-tant (Important) etc.
Tetra/Poly-Syllable (four/multi-syllable): The syllable T is four or many words and pronounced many times is called Tetra/Poly-Syllable or four/multi-syllable.
For example: Ce-le-bra-tion (celebration), Me-di-ca-tion (medicine), Ex-pla-na-tion (explanation), etc.
Penta-Syllable (Five-Syllable): The syllable that has only five words and is pronounced five times is called Penta-Syllable or five-syllable.
For example: Or-ga-ni-za-tion (Organization), Con-si-de-ra-tion (Consideration), Co-mmu-ni-ca-tion (Communication) etc.
Special Note: There are 99% of words which are formed with Vowel – the remaining 1% which are formed without -Vowel. For example: Cry, Fry, Fly etc.