Definition

Adverb: 1. In a manner relating to or by means of syllables: Pertaining to the division, pronunciation, or structure of syllables. 2. With each syllable pronounced distinctly: Speaking or articulating words by giving clear, separate emphasis to each syllable.

Usage

The adverb "syllabically" describes an action performed in terms of syllables. It is most commonly used in linguistic, poetic, and pedagogical contexts to discuss pronunciation, meter, or learning techniques. - It modifies verbs related to speech, division, or analysis (e.g., pronounced, divided, analyzed). - It is a formal term typically found in academic or technical writing about language.

Examples

• In linguistic analysis:
  • The linguist analyzed the word "unbelievable" syllabically, breaking it into un-be-liev-a-ble.
  • Some languages have rules for how words can be constructed syllabically.
• In pronunciation and speech:
  • The teacher asked the students to read the poem syllabically to understand its rhythm.
  • For clarity, he spoke slowly and syllabically to the non-native audience.
• In poetry:
  • This line is scanned syllabically, with ten syllables per line.

Advanced Usage

• Syllabically-timed language: A technical term in phonology for a language whose rhythm is based on syllables of roughly equal duration (e.g., Spanish, French), as opposed to a stress-timed language like English.
  • French is often described as a syllabically-timed language.

Variants and Related Words

• Syllable (n): A unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonants.
• Syllabic (adj): 1. Of, relating to, or consisting of a syllable or syllables. 2. (Phonetics) Forming a syllable or the nucleus of a syllable (e.g., the 'n' in /ˈbʌt.n̩/ is a syllabic consonant).
• Syllabicate / Syllabify (v): To divide or form into syllables.
• Syllabication / Syllabification (n): The division of words into syllables.

Synonyms

• By syllables
• Per syllable

Antonyms

• Holistically (as in recognizing a whole word without breaking it into parts).
• As a whole unit (in terms of pronunciation or analysis).

Adverb

1. in or with syllables
   • syllabically pronounced