Sonority, Syllable Structure, and Stress in English
Sonority Scale and Syllable Formation
The Sonority Scale (or sonority hierarchy) posits that sonority increases towards the syllable peak, typically occupied by vowels and other sonorant sounds, and decreases away from it. Obstruent sounds, with the lowest sonority, often mark syllable boundaries. The scale has seven levels:
- 7-Vowels
- 6-Glides
- 5-Liquids
- 4-Nasals
- 3-Fricatives
- 2-Affricates
- 1-Plosives
The Sonority Sequencing Generalization (SSG) states that an optimal syllable has a sonority peak, optionally
Read MoreSpanish Romantic Authors: Bécquer, Espronceda, Zorrilla & Larra
Spanish Romantic Authors
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
Bécquer, a sentimental, dreamy, and idealistic poet, employed a simpler technique than his romantic predecessors. His work, Rhymes, is divided into four sections and centers on the theme of women, often with a sentimental tone. He blends verses and stanzas, uses short lines with assonance and rhyme, and favors a language with few adjectives and frequent parallels.
Espronceda
Espronceda’s lyric poetry reflects the romantic spirit, oscillating between
Read MoreChildren’s Literature: From Medieval Times to the Golden Age
The 18th Century: A Social Construct
Children’s literature is not a natural phenomenon but a social construct, born of the European Enlightenment of the 18th century.
Before 1800
In the Middle Ages, children’s literature was simply the literature of the entire culture. Caxton printed a version of Aesop’s fables in 1484, while his successor Wynkyn de Worde produced the Geste of Robin Hood around 1510. These were texts shared by, rather than produced for, children. Legends and folk tales such as Robin
Read MoreKing Arthur: Historical Roots and Literary Evolution
Historical and Literary Sources of King Arthur
The town from which the legend of Arthur originates is Brython, a Celtic people invaded by the Romans between the 1st and 5th centuries AD. From the 5th century, they were besieged by tribes like the Angles and Saxons. In the 6th century, a Brython military leader named Arthur emerged.
A story of Latin origin states that Arthur was a war chief who fought in 14 battles against the Saxons. For his part, in Cambrial, where oral dialects were collected, it
Read MoreBenito Pérez Galdós: A Literary Journey Through 19th-Century Spain
Benito Pérez Galdós (1843-1920) was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, but it was in Madrid where he developed his literary work, becoming a keen observer of this city. In 1862, he moved there to study law but never finished the degree. A progressive writer, always concerned about politics, Galdós accepted a seat in Congress under Sagasta. Three years later, he was elected to the Royal Spanish Academy. In 1892, he began his own theatrical reform, as he had done with the novel in 1870, but was
Read MoreJohn Dryden: Poet, Critic, and Playwright of the 17th Century
John Dryden (1631-1700): A Literary Titan
John Dryden, a dominant figure in the second half of the 17th century, was a poet, essayist, literary critic, dramatist, and translator. He cultivated most of the literary genres of his time.
Born in Northamptonshire, England, Dryden came from a landowning family with connections to Parliament and the Church of England. He studied at the Westminster School of London, where he was trained in rhetoric, a strong influence on his writing and critical thought throughout