Well, let me start by saying that not all vowels are syllabic. In fact, in phonetics, a vowel is defined as syllabic, meaning it forms the peak or nucleus of a syllable. This means that when we pronounce a vowel, it can stand alone as a syllable by itself.
However, there are certain sounds that are phonetically equivalent to vowels but are not syllabic. These sounds are called semivowels, and they are produced with a similar articulation to vowels but function more like consonants in terms of syllable structure.
One example of a semivowel is the sound represented by the letter “y” in English. When we pronounce words like “yes” or “yellow,” the sound at the beginning of the word is a semivowel. It is produced with a vowel-like quality, but it is not syllabic. Instead, it typically occurs before or after a vowel sound within the same syllable, functioning as a glide or a transition between sounds.
Another example of a semivowel is the sound represented by the letter “w” in English. This sound is often heard at the beginning of words like “water” or “well.” Similar to the semivowel “y,” the sound of “w” is produced with a vowel-like quality but is not syllabic. It also functions as a glide or a transition between sounds within a syllable.
So, to sum up, while all vowels are syllabic by definition, not all vowel-like sounds are syllabic. Semivowels, such as the sounds represented by the letters “y” and “w” in English, are phonetically equivalent to vowels but are not syllabic. They function more like consonants in terms of syllable structure.
I hope this explanation clarifies the concept of syllabic vowels and semivowels for you. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!