SYLLABLE (euitAafili). A syllable consists of one or more ele mentary sounds of a language uttered in one emission of voice. The pronoun I is an example of a syllable consisting of but one elementary sound ; and the syllable strange is an example consisting of several elementary sounds articulated (joined) together. Words which consist of one syllable are termed monosyllabic ; those consisting of two are termed dissyllabic ; those of three, trisyllabic ; and those of more than three are indefinitely termed polysyllabic.
Spoken language is a system of audible signs for the expression of thought, and written language is a system of signs to express spoken language, so that written language is two removes from thought. Syllables, both as words and as parts of words, belong both to spoken and written language.
In a pronounced syllable two distinct things are observable, namely, 1st, its elementary structure; and, 2nd, the musical properties of the voice, consisting of those distinctions of sound which are described Tinder the general terms pitch, loudness, and quality. Thus in the pronoun I we observe the elementary structure to be the diphthongal vowel I, as heard in the word isle; and we observe also whether the syllable be said or sung, that is, whether the condition of voice belongs to speech or to song : an accurate observer also perceives the precise degree of pitch and loudness and the character of the quality of voice.
The time which a syllable occupies in pronunciation is termed its quantity. In solemn and stately discourse the quantities of syllables are extended beyond their ordinary length ; while in rapid colloquy they are somewhat shortened. The ordinary quantity of a syllable, when neither extended nor protracted, is the sum total of the quan tities of its constituent elementary sounds : thus the quantity of the syllable sine In the sum total of the quantities of its elementary sounds n, i, of isle, and a.
In words of more than one syllable, one of them is always made more conspicuous to the car than the other, by what is termed stress or accent Stress is produced either by an abrupt percussion of voice, as in the word pepper, or by an extended quantity on a swelling loud ness of voice, as in the word anta:e. The stressed syllable of a word is invariably that which receives the modification of voice expressive of sense and feeling, called emphasis.
The metrical arrangement of language depends on the quantity and stress of syllables, both of which are inherent ; while the pitch, loud ness, and quality of voice in which the syllables are uttered are acci dental, and belong to the thought and feeling of the speaker.
Dividiug words into syllables is a differeut operation according to the object in view, thus: 1. When a word is pronounced in widely separated syllables, to enable a child to appreciate each, as in uttering the word prodded, thus, pro-ri-ded, by which means a child readily apprehends each successive syllable of the word; 2. When a word is analysed into its component parts, in order to exhibit its etymology, and thus lead to a clear apprehension of its signification, as a whole from knowing that of its parts, as in dividing the word thermometer, thus, thermometer ; 3. To divide o word into its syllables, to enable another to write it with correctness, as the word barometer, thus, ba re-me-ter.