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Hyphenation ofdevil's-walking-stick

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

dev-il's-walk-ing-stick

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/ˈdɛvɪlz ˈwɔːkɪŋstɪk/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

10010

Primary stress falls on the second syllable of 'walking' (/ˈwɔːkɪŋ/).

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

dev/dɛv/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

il's/ɪlz/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster. Possessive 's pronounced /z/.

walk/wɔːk/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ing/ɪŋ/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant cluster.

stick/stɪk/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster followed by vowel and consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

(prefix)
+
devil, walking, stick(root)
+
's(suffix)

Prefix:

Root: devil, walking, stick

Multiple roots forming a compound noun.

Suffix: 's

Possessive suffix, indicating ownership.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A North American shrub (Aralia spinosa) with large compound leaves and clusters of small greenish-white flowers, whose root was used medicinally by Native Americans.

Examples:

"The herbalist recommended devil's-walking-stick for its anti-inflammatory properties."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

sunflowersun-flow-er

Similar compound noun structure with alternating consonant-vowel patterns.

blackboardblack-board

Similar compound noun structure with closed syllables.

fireflyfire-fly

Similar compound noun structure, but with a diphthong in the first syllable.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant (VC)

Syllables typically end in a vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.

Possessive 's

Treated as a separate syllable when pronounced.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

Regional variations in pronunciation might affect vowel sounds, but syllable division remains largely consistent.

The possessive 's can be elided in rapid speech, but is considered a separate syllable for formal analysis.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'devil's-walking-stick' is a compound noun divided into five syllables (dev-il's-walk-ing-stick) with primary stress on 'walk'. It's formed from multiple roots and a possessive suffix, and syllable division follows standard English rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "devil's-walking-stick" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "devil's-walking-stick" is a compound noun. Pronunciation in GB English will generally follow standard Received Pronunciation (RP) or a similar accent. The possessive 's is pronounced /s/ or /z/ depending on the preceding sound.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and consonant clusters, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • devil: Root. Origin: Middle English devel, from Old French diable, from Latin diabolus. Morphological function: Noun, referring to a demonic figure.
  • 's: Suffix. Origin: English possessive marker. Morphological function: Indicates possession.
  • walking: Root. Origin: Old English walkian. Morphological function: Present participle of the verb 'walk', functioning as part of a compound noun.
  • stick: Root. Origin: Old English sticca. Morphological function: Noun, referring to a slender piece of wood.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable of "walking".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈdɛvɪlz ˈwɔːkɪŋstɪk/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

  • dev: /dɛv/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. Exception: None.
  • il's: /ɪlz/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. The possessive 's is pronounced /z/ here due to the preceding vowel sound. Exception: None.
  • walk: /wɔːk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. Exception: None.
  • ing: /ɪŋ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by nasal consonant cluster. Exception: None.
  • stick: /stɪk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by vowel and consonant. Exception: None.

7. Edge Case Review:

The possessive 's can sometimes be unstressed and elided in rapid speech, but for a formal analysis, it's considered a separate syllable.

8. Grammatical Role:

The word functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context, as it's a fixed compound noun.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A North American shrub (Aralia spinosa) with large compound leaves and clusters of small greenish-white flowers, whose root was used medicinally by Native Americans.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: American ginseng (though not a direct synonym, it shares medicinal properties)
  • Antonyms: None applicable
  • Examples: "The herbalist recommended devil's-walking-stick for its anti-inflammatory properties."

10. Phonological Comparison:

  • sunflower: sun-flow-er (/ˈsʌnˌflaʊər/) - Similar syllable structure with alternating consonant-vowel patterns.
  • blackboard: black-board (/ˈblækbɔːrd/) - Similar compound noun structure with closed syllables.
  • firefly: fire-fly (/ˈfaɪərflaɪ/) - Similar compound noun structure, but with a diphthong in the first syllable.

The differences lie in the specific vowel sounds and consonant clusters, but the overall syllable division principles remain consistent.

11. Division Rules:

  • Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables typically end in a vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.
  • Possessive 's: Treated as a separate syllable when pronounced.

12. Special Considerations:

Regional variations in pronunciation might affect the vowel sounds (e.g., /ɑː/ instead of /ɔː/ in "walking"), but the syllable division would remain largely the same.

13. Short Analysis:

"devil's-walking-stick" is a compound noun divided into five syllables: dev-il's-walk-ing-stick. The primary stress falls on "walk". The word is composed of the root "devil", the possessive suffix "'s", the root "walking", and the root "stick". Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel sounds and consonant clusters.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/5/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.