35: Putting sounds into syllables is like putting toppings on a burger (Patreon)

Sometimes a syllable is jam-packed with sounds, like the  single-syllable word “strengths”. Other times, a syllable is as simple  as a single vowel or consonant+vowel, like the two syllables in “a-ha!”  It’s kind of like a burger: you might pack your burger with tons of  toppings, or go as simple as a patty by itself on a plate, but certain  combinations are more likely than others. For example, an open-face  burger, with only the bottom half of the bun, is less weird than a  burger with only the top half. 

In this episode of Lingthusiasm,  your hosts Lauren Gawne and Gretchen McCulloch get enthusiastic about  syllables. Why aren’t there any English words that begin with “ng”, even  though Vietnamese is perfectly happy to have them? Why do Spanish  speakers pronounce the English word “Sprite” more like “Esprite”? Why  did English speakers re-analyze Greek helico-pter into heli-copter? Plus  more about how different languages prefer different things in their  syllable-burgers and what happens when these preferences collide. 

This  month’s bonus episode  is about metaphors! Support Lingthusiasm on Patreon to gain access to the metaphors episode and 29 previous bonus episodes. 

Today is the final day for two things related to Because Internet,  Gretchen’s book about internet linguistics (which is out now and you can get it!). 
1.  Send us your questions about Because Internet, internet language, or  the process of writing a book for a special bonus behind the scenes  Q&A episode about the book! 
2. Join our new “ling-phabet” tier on Patreon by August 15th  in any timezone (you may get a few hours into August 16th if you’re  lucky!) and get a signed Because Internet bookplate sticker with your  name on it in the mail! 

For all the links mentioned in this episode: https://lingthusiasm.com/post/187039068846/lingthusiasm-episode-35-putting-sounds-into