Hyphenation ofcounterintelligence
Syllable Division:
coun-ter-in-tel-li-gence
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌkaʊntərɪnˈtelɪdʒəns/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
0 1 0 0 0 1
Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('tel'), and secondary stress on the first syllable ('coun').
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, stressed
Closed syllable
Closed syllable
Closed syllable
Open syllable
Closed syllable
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: counter-
French origin, meaning 'against' or 'opposing', negation/opposition
Root: intel-
Latin origin (intellegere - to understand), core meaning relating to intellect
Suffix: -ligence
French origin (Latin legentia - a reading), nominalization
Activities devoted to defeating the intelligence operations of a hostile foreign power or of its agents.
Examples:
"The agency is heavily involved in counterintelligence work."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Shares the '-ligence' suffix and similar root structure.
Shares the 'counter-' prefix and follows similar syllable division rules.
Similar suffix structure (-ance) and comparable syllable division pattern.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel-Consonant (VC) Division
Syllables are often divided after a vowel when followed by a consonant.
Consonant-Vowel (CV) Division
Syllables are often divided before a vowel when preceded by a consonant.
Consonant Cluster Division
When consonant clusters occur, division occurs to maintain phonotactic constraints.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The soft 'g' in 'gence' is a common phonetic feature but doesn't affect syllable division.
The presence of the 'counter-' prefix requires careful consideration, but the vowel sound in 'counter' clearly separates it into two syllables.
Summary:
Counterintelligence is a six-syllable noun (coun-ter-in-tel-li-gence) with primary stress on 'tel'. It's morphologically complex, built from the 'counter-' prefix, 'intel-' root, and '-ligence' suffix. Syllable division follows standard English vowel-consonant patterns.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "counterintelligence" (English (GB))
1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced /ˌkaʊntərɪnˈtelɪdʒəns/ in General British English.
2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: coun-ter-in-tel-li-gence
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: counter- (French origin, meaning "against" or "opposing"). Morphological function: negation/opposition.
- Root: intel- (Latin intellegere - to understand). Morphological function: core meaning relating to intellect.
- Suffix: -ligence (French origin, from Latin legentia - a reading, from legere - to read). Morphological function: nominalization, forming a noun.
4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌkaʊntərɪnˈtelɪdʒəns/. Secondary stress is on the first syllable.
5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌkaʊntərɪnˈtelɪdʒəns/
6. Edge Case Review: The sequence "terin" presents a potential complexity. However, the vowel sound /ɪ/ is clearly distinct, justifying the division between "ter" and "in". The 'g' before 'ence' is a soft 'g' as in 'gentle'.
7. Grammatical Role: "Counterintelligence" primarily functions as a noun. While it can be used attributively (e.g., "counterintelligence operations"), the core syllabification remains consistent.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: Activities devoted to defeating the intelligence operations of a hostile foreign power or of its agents.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: espionage, reconnaissance, spying
- Antonyms: cooperation, openness
- Examples: "The agency is heavily involved in counterintelligence work."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- Intelligence: in-tel-li-gence. Similar structure, with the "-ligence" suffix. Stress pattern is different, but the final syllable division is consistent.
- Counteract: coun-ter-act. Shares the "counter-" prefix. Syllable division follows the same pattern.
- Resistance: re-sis-tance. Similar suffix structure (-ance). Demonstrates a comparable syllable division pattern.
Detailed Syllable Analysis:
| Syllable | IPA Transcription | Description | Rule Applied | Exceptions/Special Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| coun | /kaʊn/ | Open syllable, stressed | Vowel followed by consonant | None |
| ter | /tər/ | Closed syllable | Consonant cluster followed by vowel | None |
| in | /ɪn/ | Closed syllable | Vowel followed by nasal consonant | None |
| tel | /tel/ | Closed syllable | Vowel followed by consonant | None |
| li | /lɪ/ | Open syllable | Vowel followed by consonant | None |
| gence | /dʒəns/ | Closed syllable | Consonant cluster followed by vowel | Soft 'g' pronunciation |
Syllable Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel-Consonant (VC) Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel when followed by a consonant (e.g., "coun").
- Consonant-Vowel (CV) Division: Syllables are often divided before a vowel when preceded by a consonant (e.g., "ter", "in", "tel", "li").
- Consonant Cluster Division: When consonant clusters occur, division occurs to maintain phonotactic constraints (e.g., "gence").
Exceptions/Special Cases:
- The soft 'g' in "gence" is a common phonetic feature in English, but doesn't affect the syllable division.
- The presence of the "counter-" prefix requires careful consideration, but the vowel sound in "counter" clearly separates it into two syllables.
Differences in Syllabification based on Part of Speech:
The word primarily functions as a noun, and the syllabification remains consistent regardless of its use in a phrase or sentence.
Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
Some regional variations might exhibit slight differences in vowel quality, but the core syllable division remains consistent.
Short Analysis:
"Counterintelligence" is a six-syllable word (coun-ter-in-tel-li-gence) with primary stress on the penultimate syllable. It's morphologically complex, comprising the prefix "counter-", root "intel-", and suffix "-ligence". Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns.
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This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.
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