Unit 24. Listen, Bottle, Politician, etc.
Syllabic Consonants
Unit 24; Part A
Important for listening!
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Unit 24; Part B
Important for listening! /l/ syllabic consonants are usually found in unstressed syllables after the following consonants:
Most of these consonants are spelt -le, but a few are spelt -al, -el and -ol. /n/ syllabic consonants are usually found in unstressed syllables after the following consonants:
Most of these consonants are spelt -en, -on, -ion or -ian. Words ending -sm have an /m/ syllabic consonant. For example: Buddhism, capitalism, criticism, journalism, mannerism, socialism, chasm, enthusiasm Note: Contracted forms such as didn't haven't, shouldn't, wouldn't, etc. have a syllabic 'nt': haven't = /hævnt/ or /hæv∂nt/ |
Unit 24; Part C
Important for listening! Some words have two syllabic consonants together, including: conditional, diagonal, general, literal, national, veteran. But notice that these can be pronounced m a number of ways. For example: diagonal = /daιæg∂n∂l/ or /daιæg∂nl/ or /daιægn∂l/ or /daιægnl/ |
Unit 24; Part D
When -ing is added to a verb ending with a syllabic consonant (e,g. handling, troubling, happening, gardening) the consonant + -ing is usually said as one syllable. The syllabic consonant is the first consonant of the last syllable: handle /hænd∂l/ - handling /hændliη/ happen /hæp∂n/ - happening /hæpniη/ Notice that it is also possible to say the syllabic consonant with a vowel(/∂/): /hænd∂liη/, /hæp∂niη/ |
Exercises
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