Introduction
The apostrophe, also known as the glottal stop, is a symbol used in English phonetics to indicate a brief pause in speech. It is represented by a small upside-down comma (‘) and is commonly found in words such as "can't" and "won't". The apostrophe is also used to mark the omission of letters in contractions, such as "didn't" and "it's". However, in English phonetics, the apostrophe is not always used to indicate a glottal stop. In this article, we will explore the different uses of the apostrophe in English phonetics and the rules for dividing words into syllables.
Uses of the Apostrophe in English Phonetics
1. Glottal Stop: The apostrophe is commonly used in English phonetics to indicate a glottal stop, which is a brief pause in speech caused by the closure of the vocal cords. It is represented by the symbol [ʔ] and is found in words such as "uh-oh" and "uh-huh".
2. Contraction: The apostrophe is also used to mark the omission of letters in contractions. For example, "can't" is a contraction of "cannot" and "it's" is a contraction of "it is".
Rules for Dividing Words into Syllables
3. Vowels: In English phonetics, a syllable is a unit of sound that contains a vowel sound. When dividing words into syllables, the first rule is to identify the vowels in the word. For example, the word "apple" has two vowels, "a" and "e".
4. Consonants: The second rule is to identify the consonants that come between the vowels. For example, in the word "apple", the consonants between the vowels are "p" and "l".
5. Divide: The third rule is to divide the word into syllables by placing a dash (-) between the vowels. For example, "apple" is divided into two syllables: "ap-ple".
Exceptions to the Rules
6. Silent Letters: There are some exceptions to the rules for dividing words into syllables. For example, in the word "knight", the "k" and "gh" are silent, so the word is divided into one syllable: "night".
7. Diphthongs: Diphthongs are two vowel sounds that are pronounced together as one sound. In English phonetics, diphthongs are treated as one syllable. For example, the word "coin" has one syllable, even though it contains two vowel sounds ("o" and "i") pronounced together as one sound.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the apostrophe is a symbol used in English phonetics to indicate a brief pause in speech and mark the omission of letters in contractions. When dividing words into syllables, the rules are to identify the vowels, consonants, and divide between the vowels. However, there are exceptions to these rules, such as silent letters and diphthongs. Understanding the uses of the apostrophe and the rules for dividing words into syllables can help improve your pronunciation and communication in English.