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Hyphenation ofbroken-heartedness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

bro-ken-heart-ed-ness

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/ˌbroʊkən ˈhɑːtɪd nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

10100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('heart'). Secondary stress falls on the first syllable ('bro').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

bro/broʊ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Initial syllable.

ken/kən/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

heart/hɑːt/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Primary stressed syllable.

ed/ɪd/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Final syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

broken(prefix)
+
heart(root)
+
ed(suffix)

Prefix: broken

Old English origin, past participle of 'break', adjectival modifier

Root: heart

Old English origin, core noun meaning

Suffix: ed

Old English origin, past participle/adjectival marker

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A state of extreme sadness or emotional distress, typically caused by the end of a romantic relationship.

Examples:

"She was overcome with broken-heartedness after the breakup."

"The novel explores the depths of broken-heartedness."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix and similar overall structure.

sadnesssad-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix, simpler structure.

bitternessbit-ter-ness

Similar structure with a two-syllable root and '-ness' suffix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime

Syllables are divided based on the onset (initial consonant(s)) and rime (vowel and following consonants).

Vowel Nucleus

Each syllable must contain a vowel sound (nucleus).

Consonant Clusters

Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they can be naturally split by a vowel.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

The hyphenated nature of 'broken-hearted' influences the perceived syllable boundaries.

The reduction of the '-ed' suffix in rapid speech is not reflected in this detailed analysis.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'broken-heartedness' is divided into five syllables: bro-ken-heart-ed-ness. It's a noun formed from the prefix 'broken', the root 'heart', and the suffixes '-ed' and '-ness'. Primary stress falls on 'heart'. Syllable division follows onset-rime principles, ensuring each syllable contains a vowel nucleus.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "broken-heartedness" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced /ˌbroʊkən ˈhɑːtɪd nəs/ in General British English.

2. Syllable Division: bro-ken-heart-ed-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: broken- (Old English brocen, past participle of brecan 'to break'). Morphological function: Adjectival modifier.
  • Root: heart (Old English heorte, Proto-Germanic hertan). Morphological function: Noun, core meaning.
  • Suffix: -ed (Old English -ed). Morphological function: Past participle/adjectival marker.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes, Proto-Germanic -nass). Morphological function: Noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the third syllable: heart. Secondary stress falls on the first syllable: bro.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌbroʊkən ˈhɑːtɪd nəs/

6. Edge Case Review: The sequence "-ken" can sometimes be a syllable on its own, but here, it's more naturally grouped with the vowel sound, forming "ken". The "-ed" suffix is often reduced to /d/ or /t/ in rapid speech, but for a detailed analysis, we retain the full pronunciation.

7. Grammatical Role: The word functions solely as a noun. There are no syllabification or stress shifts for other parts of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A state of extreme sadness or emotional distress, typically caused by the end of a romantic relationship.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: grief, sorrow, anguish, despair, heartbreak
  • Antonyms: happiness, joy, contentment
  • Examples: "She was overcome with broken-heartedness after the breakup." "The novel explores the depths of broken-heartedness."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • happiness: hap-pi-ness. Similar structure with a suffix "-ness". Stress on the second syllable.
  • sadness: sad-ness. Simpler structure, but shares the "-ness" suffix. Stress on the first syllable.
  • bitterness: bit-ter-ness. Similar structure with a two-syllable root and "-ness" suffix. Stress on the first syllable.

The difference in stress placement in "broken-heartedness" is due to the compound nature of the root ("broken-heart") and the length of the word. Longer words tend to distribute stress more evenly.

10. Syllable Analysis with Rules:

  • bro /broʊ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Potential exception: The /oʊ/ diphthong could be considered a complex nucleus.
  • ken /kən/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) at the end of the syllable.
  • heart /hɑːt/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) at the end of the syllable.
  • ed /ɪd/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) at the end of the syllable.
  • ness /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) at the end of the syllable.

11. Special Considerations: The hyphenated nature of "broken-hearted" influences the perceived syllable boundaries. While it could be argued that "heart" and "ed" form a single syllable, maintaining the hyphenated structure reflects the morphological separation.

12. Division Rules:

  • Onset-Rime: Syllables are divided based on the onset (initial consonant(s)) and rime (vowel and following consonants).
  • Vowel Nucleus: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound (nucleus).
  • Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they can be naturally split by a vowel.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.