sonority_cat.jpg
This image is a linguistic diagram illustrating the sonority hierarchy of a syllable. It features a graph plotted on a white background.

On the far left side, there is a vertical dashed black line acting as an axis. At the top of this line is an arrow pointing upward. Running parallel to this line is the text "Increasing Sonority," written vertically so that it reads from bottom to top. This indicates that higher positions on the graph represent sounds with greater sonority (loudness or resonance).

The main part of the diagram consists of a blue line forming a triangular shape, connecting three specific phonetic symbols in blue text:

1.  **Left Point:** At the bottom left, corresponding to the lowest level of sonority, is the letter "k". Directly below this point is the black label "Onset."
2.  **Top Peak:** A solid blue line slopes upward from the "k" to a peak at the top center of the image. At this highest point is the phonetic symbol "æ" (an open-mid front unrounded vowel). Directly below this peak, centered horizontally, is the black label "Nucleus."
3.  **Right Point:** From the peak "æ," a solid blue line slopes downward to the right, ending at the bottom right level of sonority. At this point is the letter "t". Directly below this point is the black label "Coda."

The diagram visually represents the syllable structure for a word like "cat" (phonetically /kæt/), showing that sonority rises from the onset consonant, peaks at the vowel nucleus, and falls again in the coda.
This description was generated automatically. Please feel free to ask questions if you have further questions about the nature of the image or its meaning within the presentation.