Theories on syllable formation and division Expiratory theory (R.N. Stetson) Sonority theory (O. Jespersen) Theory of muscular tension (L.V. Shcherba) Loudness theory (N.I. Zhinkin) Syllable division rules The intervocalic consonant belongs to the short vowel preceding it(pity) The syllable boundary goes through the consonant (pity). In this case the sound [t] belongs to both • When two vowels are separated from each other by two consonants the point of syllable division is often conditioned by whether this cluster occurs at the beginning of English words or not. If it does , the point of syllable division is before the cluster; if it does not, the syllabic boundary is between the consonants(agree, admit) • English diphthongs are unisyllabic, they consist of one vowel phoneme, English triphthongs are disyllabic, because they consist of two vowel phonemes(science)