What is the role of silent vowels in syllabication?

Silent vowels play a significant role in syllabication by not contributing to the count of vowels used in syllables. When determining the number of syllables in a word, it's important to recognize that silent vowels do not impact the overall vowel count that is considered in syllabication. For instance, in the word "cake," the 'e' at the end is silent and does not count as an active vowel for the purpose of syllable division. As a result, only the 'a' is considered, and the word is recognized as having one syllable. This understanding is crucial for students learning how to break down words into their respective syllables and contributes to their overall literacy skills.