nxcanh
When we compare weak syllable with strong syllable we find that the vowel in a weak syllable tends to be shorter, lower intensity and different in quality.
VD: in the word “ worker” [wɜːkə], the second syllable which is weak, is shorter than the first, is less loud and has a vowel that can not occur in strong syllable.
Any strong syllable will have peak as one of the vowel phonemes (possibly a triphthong) but not [ə]; [ɪ] ; [ʊ]
At the end of the word we may have a weak syllable ending with a vowel (with no coda)
– The vowel [ə]
– A closed front unrounded vowel in the general area of [ iː ] and [ ɪ ]
– A closed back rounded vowel in the general area of [ uː ] and [ ʊ ]
Example:
– Better [ betə ] ; happy [ hæpɪ ]; thank you [θæŋkiʊ]
We also find weak syllables in word-final position with a coda, if the vowel is [ə]
Example: Open [ `əʊpən ] ; sharpen [ `ʃɑːpən ]
Inside a word, we can find the above vowels acting as peaks without coda in weak syllable, for example look at the second syllable in each of these words :
1. Photograph [ fəʊtəgrɑːf ]
2. Radio [ `reɪdɪəʊ ]
3. Influence [ɪnflʊəns ]
In addition, the vowel [ɪ] can act as a peak without coda if the following syllable begins with a consonant.
VD: Architecture [ɑːkɪtekt]
Note: Not all weak syllables contain [ ə ] , though many do./.