Hyphenation ofbefolkningsundersøgelserne

Danish Word Analysis: befolkingsundersøgelserne

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "befolkningsundersøgelserne" is a complex Danish noun. It's pronounced with a relatively even stress distribution, though the final syllable receives a slight emphasis due to the definite article ending. The 'ø' sound is a central rounded vowel, and the 'r' is often a uvular approximant or even silent in some dialects.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Danish syllabification rules, which generally favor maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable), the word is divided as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• befolk-: Prefix, derived from folk (people) and be- (a prefix indicating covering or encompassing). Origin: Germanic. Function: Indicates relating to the people.
• -nings-: Root, related to folk (people). Origin: Germanic. Function: Forms a noun denoting a process or collection.
• -undersøgel-: Root, from undersøge (to investigate). Origin: Old Norse. Function: The core action of investigation.
• -serne: Suffix, a combination of -ser (plural marker) and -ne (definite article). Origin: Germanic. Function: Indicates plural and definite form.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the syllable "-folk-". Danish stress is generally weak and predictable, but content words like nouns often have a slightly stronger stress on the first syllable of the root.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/pe̝ˈfolkɪnsˌʊn̩ðɐ̥ˌsøːɡ̊el̩sɛɐ̯nə/

6. Edge Case Review:

Danish allows for complex consonant clusters, and the syllable division reflects this. The 'ns' cluster in "befolknings-" is a common onset. The 'r' sound is often reduced or elided, especially in rapid speech.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word is a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function, as it's a single, inflected form.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Word: befolkingsundersøgelserne
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Definitions:
  • "Population studies"
  • "Population surveys"
• Translation: English: "The population studies/surveys"
• Synonyms: befolkningsstatistikker (population statistics), befolkningsanalyser (population analyses)
• Antonyms: None directly applicable.
• Examples:
  • "Resultaterne fra befolkingsundersøgelserne viste en stigning i gennemsnitsalderen." (The results from the population studies showed an increase in average age.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• forestillingerne (the representations): be-folk-nings-un-der-sø-gel-ser-ne vs. fo-re-stil-lin-ger-ne. Both have complex suffixes and similar syllable structures.
• samarbejdsgruppen (the cooperation group): sam-ar-bejds-grup-pen vs. be-folk-nings-un-der-sø-gel-ser-ne. Both have consonant clusters and multiple suffixes.
• udviklingsmulighederne (the development opportunities): ud-vik-lings-mulig-heder-ne vs. be-folk-nings-un-der-sø-gel-ser-ne. Both are long, complex nouns with multiple morphemes.

The key difference is the length and complexity of the root in "befolkningsundersøgelserne". The longer root leads to more syllables.

10. Division Rules:

• Onset Maximization: Danish prefers to include as many consonants as possible in the onset of a syllable (e.g., "befolk-").
• Vowel Centering: Each syllable must contain a vowel.
• Moraic Weight: Syllables are often structured around moras, with heavier syllables (containing long vowels or diphthongs) being more prominent.

11. Special Considerations:

The definite article ending "-ne" is a common feature of Danish nouns and influences the final syllable. The 'r' sound can be reduced or elided, affecting the phonetic realization but not the syllabification.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

In some dialects, the 'r' sound might be more pronounced, or the vowel qualities might vary slightly. However, these variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.