Question about dividing a word into syllables

[caroluk09]

Hi everyone. I have a question about dividing a word into syllables. If there is only a single consonant in the middle of the word (ex: open), we usually divide the syllable before the consonant (in this example, open will become o/pen). However, there is a website page claimed that there are two ways to divide if there is only a single consonant in the middle of the word: if the vowel is long sound, divide before the consonant (for example baby-> ba/by) ; if the vowel is short sound, divide after the consonant (for example river-> riv/er). The question is how do you know if the vowel is long or short sound? Is there any way to find out?

Thank you

 

[jutfrank]

The question is how do you know if the vowel is long or short sound? Is there any way to find out?

Native speakers obviously know whether the vowel is long or short.

Learners can use a dictionary and check the phonetic transcription, which tells you this. You have to learn how to read the symbols, though.

 

[CSHY]

......if the vowel is short sound, divide after the consonant (for example river-> riv/er). The question is how do you know if the vowel is long or short sound? Is there any way to find out?Thank you

'River' is to be divided as 'ri/ver'.

The syllabificaton of Egnlish words is based on their spellings, morphemes and origin. The basic rules are:

a. monosyllable: the only syllable has the accent.

b. bisyllables: 1) quite a lot of prefixes such as a-, ad-(ac-/af-/ag-/al-/am-/an-/a-p/ar-/at-/), be-, de-, ex-, in/en, re-, se-, expecially in verbs, usually have no accents. Words contain these often have the accent on the second syllable: _' _ 2) other words have the accent on the first syllable. '_ _

c. trisyllables: 1) if contains the forementioned prefixes, put the accent on the second syllable: _ ' _ _ 2) for other words, put on the first: ' _ _ _

d. words of four or five syllables: _ ' _ _ _ / ( _ _ ' _ _) /( '_ _ _ _) or _ _ '_ _ _ / ( _ _ _ '_ _ )

e. words with suffixes -ic, -al, -tion/-sion/-xion at the end usually have the accent on the syllable second from last