Along with a number of like-minded linguists, and bolstered by a growing body of research, MIT linguistics
professor Donca Steriade believes that the emphasis on syllables is misplaced. Instead she suggests that a
different element-known as the "interval-may be the basic unit of rhythm in human language.
With formulas that resemble complex mathematics and a highly specialized lexicon, linguistics research
can seem daunting. But the underlying ideas are all part of our everyday lives.
Consider how the syllable is formed: Linguistics shows us it is made up of a central sound (usually a vowel)
plus secondary sounds (usually consonants) that can sit on either side of the vowel. The word "engineer,"
for instance, contains three syllables: en-gin-eer.
Intervals, on the other hand, always begin with a vowel, and then include all the consonants through the
following vowel. Thus, the syllables of en-gin-eer become the intervals eng-in-eer.
The subtle distinction between syllables and intervals may seem small, but in the sustained effort to
understand how human language works, and how it changes over time, the difference is crucial, and of
significant value for language research.
Adapted from Daniel Pritchard and Emily Hiestand, "Donca Steriade: Searching for the Building Blocks of Language."02015 by MIT News
Question
Over the course of the passage, the main focus shifts from a
O discussion of the interval as the basic unit of rhythm in human language to a comparison of how syllables
and intervals are formed
O definition of the term "syllable" to an example of certain syllables in human language that have changed
over time
O summary of a complex linguistic theory to an explanation of similarities between syllables and intervals
O description of a research study of linguistic intervals to an analysis of that research's impact on the
understanding of human language