Word division and syllabification in English

HLADKÝ, Josef. Word division and syllabification in English. Brno: MU, 1985.

Basic information

• Original name: Word division and syllabification in English
• Name (in English): Word division and syllabification in English
• Authors: HLADKÝ, Josef.
• Edition: Brno, MU, 1985.

Other information

• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Organization unit: Faculty of Education
• Keywords in English: word; division; syllabification
• Tags: division, syllabification, Word

Abstract

Four papers in BSE and in Philologica Pragensia study word division in English both from the diachronic and synchronic point of view. In the Exeter Book we find division based on the morphological principle, eg geworh-te, on the syllable boundary CV-CV, eg myce-le, and between two consonants, eg swear-tan (but deo-fles, eal-dre, if the second consonant is a liquid). Prefixes are sometimes separated, eg ge dringan, a wyrgde, while a preposition may be written solid with the noun, eg toworulde. In the 19th century the British usage prefers the morphological principle while the American usage prefers pronunciation. Although pronunciation plays a more important role in the British usage of the 20th century, word division in writing is not a mere copy of spoken syllabification. The written and the spoken norms maintain a degree of independence even in this area.

Abstract (in English)

Four papers in BSE and in Philologica Pragensia study word division in English both from the diachronic and synchronic point of view. In the Exeter Book we find division based on the morphological principle, eg geworh-te, on the syllable boundary CV-CV, eg myce-le, and between two consonants, eg swear-tan (but deo-fles, eal-dre, if the second consonant is a liquid). Prefixes are sometimes separated, eg ge dringan, a wyrgde, while a preposition may be written solid with the noun, eg toworulde. In the 19th century the British usage prefers the morphological principle while the American usage prefers pronunciation. Although pronunciation plays a more important role in the British usage of the 20th century, word division in writing is not a mere copy of spoken syllabification. The written and the spoken norms maintain a degree of independence even in this area.