Hyphenation ofconscience-striken

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

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced approximately as /ˈkɒnʃəns ˌstraɪkən/ in General British English.

2. Syllable Division: con-science-stri-ken

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: con- (Latin, meaning "with, together") - functions as an intensifier or to indicate participation.
• Root: science (Latin scientia, meaning "knowledge") - refers to awareness or moral sense in this context.
• Suffix: -striken (Old English strīcen, past participle of strīcan meaning "to rub, stroke, afflict") - indicates a past action affecting the conscience. This is a somewhat archaic formation.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the first syllable: con-science. Secondary stress falls on stri.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˈkɒnʃəns ˌstraɪkən/

6. Edge Case Review: The hyphenated nature of the word presents a slight complication. The division between "conscience" and "striken" is relatively straightforward, following a clear morphemic boundary. The "-striken" suffix is less common in modern English, potentially leading to some hesitation in syllabification for native speakers.

7. Grammatical Role: The word functions as an adjective. There is no significant shift in syllabification or stress if it were hypothetically used as part of a compound noun (though this is rare).

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Causing or characterized by feelings of guilt or moral distress.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: guilt-inducing, distressing, agonizing, remorseful
• Antonyms: comforting, reassuring, soothing
• Examples: "The politician's conscience-striken expression revealed his regret." "A conscience-striken silence fell over the room."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Difference: /ˈkɒnʃəns ˌstraɪkən/
• Evidence: The syllable structure is consistent with other complex words in English.
• Similar Words:
  • conscientious /ˈkɒnʃəntʃəs/ - Similar initial syllable structure. Stress on the second syllable differs due to the suffix.
  • science /ˈsaɪəns/ - Shares the root "science" and similar vowel sounds.
  • stricken /ˈstrɪkən/ - Shares the "-striken" suffix and similar vowel sounds.

10. Syllable Breakdown with Rules & Exceptions:

• con- /kɒn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: Initial syllable of a multi-syllabic word.
• science- /ˈsaɪəns/ - Complex syllable. Rule: Vowel digraph followed by consonant cluster. Exception: The 'c' is pronounced /s/ due to the following 'i'.
• stri- /straɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel digraph followed by consonant.
• ken /kən/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) at the end of the syllable.

11. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: Some speakers might reduce the vowel in "science" to a schwa /səns/, leading to a slightly different pronunciation /ˈkɒnʃəns ˌstraɪkən/. This wouldn't significantly alter the syllable division.

12. Division Rules Applied:

• Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound followed by a consonant sound.
• Complex Syllable Structure: Handling of vowel digraphs and consonant clusters.
• Morpheme Boundary: Respecting morphemic boundaries when dividing syllables.

13. Special Considerations: The archaic nature of the "-striken" suffix might lead to some variability in pronunciation and syllabification among speakers. The hyphenated form also requires careful consideration.

14. Short Analysis: "conscience-striken" is a four-syllable adjective with primary stress on the first syllable. It's formed from a Latin prefix, root, and an Old English suffix. Syllabification follows standard vowel-consonant division rules, respecting morphemic boundaries.