What role do consonants play in syllable formation?

Consonants play a vital role in shaping the structure of a syllable, primarily by influencing the vowel sound that typically serves as the nucleus. In a syllable, consonants can precede (as onset) or follow (as codas) the vowel, contributing to the overall phonetic richness and clarity of the syllable. For example, in the word "cat," the consonant "c" before the vowel "a" helps define the sound and the syllable's effective pronunciation.

While it’s true that consonants are not always present in every syllable—some can exist with just a vowel—when consonants are included, they distinctly modify the characteristics of the vowel sound. This shaping can affect aspects such as the syllable's rhythm and stress. Thus, the key role of consonants lies in how they interact with the vowels to create clear distinctions between syllables and to enrich the phonological structure of language.