Hyphenation ofcounterattractive
Syllable Division:
coun-ter-at-trac-tive
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌkaʊntəræˈtræktɪv/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
01001
Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('trac'). The first syllable is unstressed.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant(s).
Closed syllable, consonant cluster followed by a vowel.
Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.
Closed syllable, consonant cluster followed by a vowel and consonant.
Closed syllable, consonant followed by a vowel and consonant.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: counter-
Latin origin (*contra-* meaning 'against'); creates an antonym.
Root: tract
Latin origin (*tractus* meaning 'draw, pull'); core meaning relating to attraction.
Suffix: -ive
Latin origin (*-ivus* meaning 'relating to, tending to'); forms an adjective.
Not appealing or attractive; having the opposite effect of attraction.
Examples:
"The politician's counterattractive policies alienated many voters."
"His personality was surprisingly counterattractive."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Shares the root and suffix, similar stress pattern.
Shares the root and suffix, similar stress pattern.
Similar prefix and syllable structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Onset Maximization
Attempt to include as many consonants as possible in the onset of a syllable.
Vowel Nucleus
Every syllable must have a vowel nucleus.
Closed vs. Open Syllables
Syllables ending in a consonant are closed; those ending in a vowel are open.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The initial 'coun-' syllable's diphthong 'ou' could be analyzed differently by some phonologists.
The word's length and complexity require careful consideration of onset maximization.
Summary:
The word 'counterattractive' is divided into five syllables: coun-ter-at-trac-tive. It features a Latin-derived prefix 'counter-', root 'tract', and suffix '-ive'. The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable. Syllabification follows onset maximization and vowel nucleus rules.
Detailed Analysis:
Analysis of "counterattractive" (English (GB))
1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced /ˌkaʊntəræˈtræktɪv/ in General British English.
2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets, is: coun-ter-at-trac-tive.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: counter- (Latin, contra- meaning 'against'). Function: Creates an antonym.
- Root: tract (Latin, tractus meaning 'draw, pull'). Function: Core meaning relating to attraction.
- Suffix: -ive (Latin, -ivus meaning 'relating to, tending to'). Function: Forms an adjective.
- Suffix: -attractive (English, derived from attract + -ive). Function: Forms an adjective.
4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌkaʊntəræˈtræktɪv/.
5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌkaʊntəræˈtræktɪv/
6. Edge Case Review: The sequence /tr/ is a common onset in English and doesn't present a syllabification issue. The presence of the schwa /ə/ in the first syllable is typical in unstressed syllables.
7. Grammatical Role: "Counterattractive" functions solely as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: Not appealing or attractive; having the opposite effect of attraction.
- Grammatical Category: Adjective
- Synonyms: unappealing, repellent, unattractive, off-putting
- Antonyms: attractive, appealing, alluring, charming
- Examples: "The politician's counterattractive policies alienated many voters." "His personality was surprisingly counterattractive."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- unattractive: un-at-trac-tive. Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
- attractive: at-trac-tive. Shares the root and suffix, stress pattern is similar.
- counterproductive: coun-ter-pro-duc-tive. Similar prefix and syllable structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
The key difference lies in the initial prefix. "Counter-" is longer and more complex than "un-", influencing the initial syllable division.
Detailed Syllable Analysis:
- coun-: /kaʊn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Potential exception: The 'ou' diphthong could be considered a complex onset, but is commonly treated as a single unit.
- -ter: /tər/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by a vowel. Potential exception: The 'ter' cluster is common and doesn't pose a division issue.
- -at: /æt/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
- -trac: /træk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by a vowel and consonant.
- -tive: /tɪv/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by a vowel and consonant.
Exceptions/Special Cases:
- The initial 'coun-' syllable is a relatively common pattern, but the diphthong 'ou' could be analyzed differently by some phonologists.
- The word's length and complexity require careful consideration of onset maximization.
Division Rules Applied:
- Onset Maximization: Attempt to include as many consonants as possible in the onset of a syllable.
- Vowel Nucleus: Every syllable must have a vowel nucleus.
- Closed vs. Open Syllables: Syllables ending in a consonant are closed; those ending in a vowel are open.
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