Hyphenation ofconscience-stricken

Analysis of "conscience-stricken" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced /ˌkɒnʃəns ˈstrɪkən/ in General British English.

2. Syllable Division: con-science-strick-en

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: con- (Latin, meaning "with" or "together") - functions to intensify or combine with the root.
• Root: science (Latin scientia, meaning "knowledge") - refers to awareness or knowing.
• Suffix: -stricken (Old English strīcen, meaning "to distress, afflict") - indicates a state of being affected or overcome by something.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the third syllable: 'strick'. Secondary stress falls on the first syllable: 'con'.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌkɒnʃəns ˈstrɪkən/

6. Edge Case Review: The hyphenated nature of the word presents a slight complication. However, the internal structure follows standard English syllabification rules.

7. Grammatical Role: "Conscience-stricken" functions primarily as an adjective. The syllabification remains consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Feeling or showing great distress or guilt as a result of wrongdoing.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: guilt-ridden, remorseful, anguished, tormented
• Antonyms: carefree, untroubled, blithe
• Examples: "He was conscience-stricken after lying to his friend." "The soldier returned home a conscience-stricken man."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "conscientious": con-sci-en-tious. Similar initial structure, but the addition of "-tious" alters the syllable count and stress pattern.
• "stricken": strick-en. A shorter word sharing the "-stricken" suffix, demonstrating the consistent syllabification of this morpheme.
• "conscience": con-science. The root of the word, showing the basic syllable division before the addition of the suffix.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown:

• con: /kɒn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: Initial syllable, often open.
• science: /ˈsaɪəns/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). The diphthong /aɪ/ creates a complex nucleus.
• strick: /ˈstrɪk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. The /ɪ/ vowel is short and followed by /str/ and /k/.
• en: /ən/ - Open syllable. Rule: Schwa vowel followed by nasal consonant. Often a reduced vowel in unstressed syllables.

Syllable Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound followed by a consonant sound.
2. Consonant Cluster Division: When a consonant cluster separates vowels, the cluster is typically maintained within a syllable.
3. Open vs. Closed Syllables: Open syllables end in a vowel sound, while closed syllables end in a consonant sound.
4. Stress and Syllable Weight: Stressed syllables tend to be longer and more prominent, influencing syllable division.

Special Considerations:

• The hyphen in "conscience-stricken" is a morphological marker, but doesn't affect the phonological syllabification.
• Regional variations in pronunciation (e.g., different vowel qualities) might slightly alter the phonetic realization of the syllables, but not the core syllabic structure.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents General British English, some speakers might exhibit slight variations in vowel pronunciation. These variations would not fundamentally alter the syllable division.

Short Analysis:

"Conscience-stricken" is a four-syllable adjective derived from Latin and Old English roots. It is syllabified as con-science-strick-en, with primary stress on 'strick'. The syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and syllable weight. The word signifies a state of deep distress or guilt.