Phonetics: Syllabic Nasals and Liquids in Standard English 1.1

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This exercise will help you recognize syllabic nasals and liquids (although, at the phonetic level /ɹ/ is an approximant, we are classifying it here as an honorary liquid) in Standard English.

Remember that syllabic structure and stress assignment play an important role in determining whether or not a liquid or nasal is [+syllabic]. Note that in most cases in which a consonant is marked [+syllabic] due to being found in an unstressed syllable, an alternate transcription, /ə/ +[+syllabic] consonant, is possible.
Ex: /splɪntɹ̩/ vs. /splɪntəɹ/

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Question 1

Decide whether the nasal is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word autumn.

A	syllabic
B	non-syllabic Hint: In the second syllable, which is unstressed, /m/ has enough vowel-like sonority such that it behaves like a vowel; it is thus [+syllabic].

Question 2

Decide whether the liquid is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word align.

A	non-syllabic
B	syllabic Hint: In the second, stressed syllable /aɪ/ is found in the nucleus, and /n/ is in coda position, making it [-syllabic].

Question 3

Decide whether the rhotic approximant is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word brook.

A	syllabic Hint: /ɹ/ is found as the second consonant in the complex onset /bɹ/, making it [-syllabic].
B	non-syllabic

Question 4

Decide whether the liquid is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word bald.

A	non-syllabic
B	syllabic Hint: [ᴐ] is found in the nucleus and [l] is found in the coda; it thus functions as a [-syllabic] consonant.

Question 5

Decide whether the liquid is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word blame.

A	non-syllabic
B	syllabic Hint: /l/ is found as the second consonant in the complex onset /bl/; it is thus [-syllabic].

Question 6

Decide whether the liquid is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word custard.

A	syllabic
B	non-syllabic Hint: In the second syllable, which is unstressed, /ɹ/ has enough vowel-like sonority such that it behaves like a vowel, making it [+syllabic].

Question 7

Decide whether the nasal is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word sudden.

A	syllabic
B	non-syllabic Hint: In the second syllable, which is unstressed, /n/ has enough vowel-like sonority such that it behaves like a vowel, making it [+syllabic].

Question 8

Decide whether the rhotic approximant is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word skater.

A	non-syllabic Hint: In the second syllable, which is unstressed, /ɹ/ has enough vowel-like sonority such that it behaves like a vowel, making it [+syllabic].
B	syllabic

Question 9

Decide whether the nasal is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word platoon.

A	non-syllabic
B	syllabic Hint: In the second, stressed syllable, /u/ is found in the nucleus, and /n/ is in coda position. The /n/ is thus [-syllabic].

Question 10

Decide whether the rhotic approximant is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word beard.

A	non-syllabic
B	syllabic Hint: [i] fills the nucleus, and [ɹ] is found in coda position as the first consonant of the complex cluster [ɹd], making it [-syllabic].

Question 11

Decide whether the liquid is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word kettle.

A	non-syllabic Hint: In the second syllable, which is unstressed, /l/ creates enough vowel-like sonority such that it behaves like a vowel, making it [+syllabic].
B	syllabic

Question 12

Decide whether the rhotic approximant is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word yarn.

A	syllabic Hint: /ᴐ/ fills the nucleus, and /ɹ/ is found in coda position as the first consonant of the complex cluster /ɹn/, making it [-syllabic].
B	non-syllabic

Question 13

Decide whether the liquid is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word chisel.

A	non-syllabic Hint: In the second syllable, which is unstressed, /l/ has enough vowel-like sonority such that it behaves like a vowel, making it [+syllabic].
B	syllabic

Question 14

Decide whether the liquid is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word angle.

A	syllabic
B	non-syllabic Hint: In the second syllable, which is unstressed, /l/ provides enough vowel-like sonority such that it behaves like a vowel, making it [+syllabic].

Question 15

Decide whether the rhotic approximant is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word father.

A	syllabic
B	non-syllabic Hint: In the second syllable, which is unstressed, /ɹ/ provides enough vowel-like sonority such that it behaves like a vowel, making it [+syllabic].

Question 16

Decide whether the nasal is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word attend.

A	syllabic Hint: In the second, stressed syllable, /Ɛ/ is found in the nucleus, and /n/ is in coda position as the first consonant of the coda cluster /nd/, making it [-syllabic].
B	non-syllabic

Question 17

Decide whether the rhotic approximant is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word pear.

A	syllabic Hint: /ɛɪ/ is found in the nucleus and /ɹ/ is in coda position; it thus functions as a [-syllabic] consonant.
B	non-syllabic

Question 18

Decide whether the rhotic approximant is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word secure.

A	syllabic Hint: The second syllable is stressed; /u/ is found in its nucleus, and /ɹ/ is in coda position, making it [-syllabic].
B	non-syllabic

Question 19

Decide whether the liquid is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word swelled.

A	non-syllabic
B	syllabic Hint: [Ɛ] is found in the nucleus, and [l] is found in the coda in a complex cluster [ld]; it is thus [-syllabic].

Question 20

Decide whether the rhotic approximant is syllabic or non-syllabic in the word furry.

A	syllabic Hint: /ɹ/ is in the onset of the second syllable; it thus functions as a [-syllabic] consonant.
B	non-syllabic

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Phonetics: Syllabic Nasals and Liquids in Standard English 1.1

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