A Review of English Syllable Structure

Abstract

The syllable is a phonological entity that is very significant in phonological representations, for it is the unit in terms of which phonological systems are organized with very significant restrictions on the ordering of the elements that make them up. This paper reviews the syllable structure of English and also explores the aesthetic role of the syllable for its onomatopoeic and sound effects which add variety and interest to text. There is no doubt that language manipulators consider sound patterns in their lexical selection. They also know that sound parallelism, when not ornamental, is used to link sound and syntax to create fun, humour and beauty in a text (written or spoken). The paper also shows that the syllable forms an important locus for stylistic experimentation in sound manipulation or sound patterning. It thus plays a pivotal role in everyday conversation, literary discourse in general and poetry in particular.