"Eight Letters in some Syllables we find,
And no more Syllables in Words are joined."
Brightland's Gram., p. 61.
CHAPTER II.—OF SYLLABLES.
A Syllable is one or more letters pronounced in one sound; and is either a word, as, a, an, ant; or a part of a word, as di in dial.
In every word there are as many syllables as there are distinct sounds, or separate impulses of the voice; as, gram-ma-ri-an.
A word of one syllable is called a monosyllable; a word of two syllables, a dissyllable; a word of three syllables, a trissyllable; and a word of four or more syllables, a polysyllable.
Every vowel, except w, may form a syllable of itself; but the consonants belong to the vowels or diphthongs; and without a vowel no syllable can be formed.
DIPHTHONGS AND TRIPHTHONGS.
A diphthong is two vowels joined in one syllable; as, ea in beat, ou in sound. In oe or æ, old or foreign, the characters often unite.
A proper diphthong is a diphthong in which both the vowels are sounded; as, oi in voice, ow in vow.
An improper diphthong is a diphthong in which only one of the vowels is sounded; as, oa in loaf, eo in people.