def get_first_syl(w):
    """                                                                         
    Given a word w, return the first syllable and the remaining suffix.         
    """
    assert len(w) > 0
    a = w[0]
    n = 0
    while n < len(w) and w[n] == a:
        n = n + 1
    return ((a, n), w[n:])