On the syllable division of double groups of consonants between vowels

Abstract

This paper has focused on syllabification of bi-consonantal clusters in intervocalic position. In the present research on syllabification, we support some of the existing rules by bringing new arguments and making some additions in order to make them more convincing, with a view to improving and simplifying their practical application. We focus on syllable boundary when there are two consonants between vowels, based on the Sonority Sequencing Principle, on the Syllable Contact Law, the Dispersion Principle and the Maximum Onset Principle. We consider that the sonority theory offers better solutions to syllable boundary in Albanian. According to the data from our questionnaire, 82% of the subjects placed two consonants in the onset of the second syllable in [mi-sra], even though Albanian has no word starting with /sr/; thus, in this case the phonetic aspect overrules the phonotactic rule. This argument also holds for the groups /fk/,/nt/, /rj/, /lj/ etc. As it can be understood from the examples discussed above, if we focus on a detailed phonetic analysis of the articulation of a word or a certain group of sounds, relying on phonotactic criteria worsens the controversy on syllable boundary determination in Albanian. By contrast, if we resort to the Sonority Theory and the models we examined above, solutions that are more appropriate could be given: the rules of syllable boundary become clearer, more generalizing and simpler in practical application, by avoiding the exceptions for consonant groups in intervocalic position that possess the same sonority curve. Furthermore, we deem it necessary that experimental researches on such cases should be conducted in the future. However, for specific words in Albanian,the phonological factor, the morphological structure of a word and the role of stress may aid in determining syllable boundaries.