Hyphenation ofcomprehensibleness

Linguistic Analysis of "comprehensibleness" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:

The word "comprehensibleness" is a complex noun formed through multiple morphological processes. Its pronunciation in GB English is approximately /ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnsɪbl̩nəs/. It presents challenges due to its length and the presence of multiple suffixes.

2. Syllable Division:

Following GB English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows (using only original letters):

com-pre-hen-si-ble-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: com- (Latin, meaning "with, together") - Function: Intensifier/completer.
• Root: prehend (Latin, meaning "to grasp, seize") - Function: Core meaning of understanding.
• Suffix: -hen- (Latin, connecting vowel) - Function: Connects root to subsequent suffixes.
• Suffix: -si- (Latin, from scientia meaning "knowledge") - Function: Forms the adjective.
• Suffix: -ble (English, from Old French –ble) - Function: Forms an adjective meaning "capable of being".
• Suffix: -ness (English, from Old English –nes) - Function: Forms a noun denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: hen. The secondary stress falls on the first syllable: com.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnsɪbl̩nəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

• com-: /kɒm/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset-Rhyme structure. Vowel followed by consonant.
• pre-: /prɪ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by vowel.
• hen-: /ˈhɛn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel and consonant. Primary stress.
• si-: /ˈsɪ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel.
• ble-: /bl̩/ - Syllabic consonant. Rule: /l/ can function as a syllable nucleus after a consonant cluster.
• ness-: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel and consonant.

7. Edge Case Review & Exceptions:

The syllabic /l/ in "ble" is a common feature in English, but requires careful consideration. The length of the word and the multiple suffixes create a potential for mis-syllabification.

8. Grammatical Role & Syllabification Shifts:

"Comprehensibleness" primarily functions as a noun. If a related adjective "comprehensible" were analyzed, the stress would shift to the third syllable: /ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnsɪbl/. The syllable division would remain the same, but the prominence would change.

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality of being comprehensive; the state of being fully understood or covering all aspects of a subject.
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Synonyms: completeness, thoroughness, inclusivity, exhaustiveness
• Antonyms: incompleteness, superficiality, narrowness
• Examples: "The comprehensibleness of the report was greatly appreciated." "His explanation lacked comprehensibleness."

10. Regional Variations:

While the core syllabification remains consistent across GB English dialects, slight variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /ɒ/ vs. /ɔ/) might occur. These variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress on the third syllable.
• Understandability: un-der-stand-a-bil-i-ty - Similar structure, stress on the third syllable.
• Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty - Similar structure, stress on the third syllable.

The consistent stress pattern on the third-to-last syllable in these words demonstrates a common tendency in English to stress suffixes when multiple suffixes are present. The presence of the syllabic /l/ is also a common feature.