Editing Syllable (section)

=== Onset-nucleus-rime segmentation ===

In this framework, the general structure of a syllable (σ) consists of three segments grouped into two components:

* [[#Onset|Onset]] (ω): A [[consonant]] or [[consonant cluster]], obligatory in some languages, optional or even restricted in others
* [[#Rime|Rime]] (ρ): Right branch, contrasts with onset, splits into nucleus and coda
** [[#Nucleus|Nucleus]] (ν): A [[vowel]] or [[syllabic consonant]], obligatory in most languages
** [[#Coda|Coda]] (κ): A consonant or consonant cluster, optional in some languages, highly restricted or prohibited in others

The syllable is usually considered right-branching, i.e. nucleus and coda are grouped together as a "rime" and are only distinguished at the second level.

The ''nucleus'' is usually the vowel in the middle of a syllable.{{sfn|Easterday|2019|p=10}} The ''onset'' is the sound or sounds occurring before the nucleus, and the ''coda'' (literally 'tail') is the sound or sounds that follow the nucleus. They are sometimes collectively known as the ''shell''. The term ''rime'' covers the nucleus plus coda. In the one-syllable English word ''cat'', the nucleus is ''a'' (the sound that can be shouted or sung on its own), the onset ''c'', the coda ''t'', and the rime ''at''. This syllable can be abstracted as a ''consonant-vowel-consonant'' syllable, abbreviated ''CVC''. Languages vary greatly in the restrictions on the sounds making up the onset, nucleus and coda of a syllable, according to what is termed a language's [[phonotactics]].

Although every syllable has supra-segmental features, these are usually ignored if not semantically relevant, e.g. in [[tonal language]]s.