HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofdouble-facedness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

dou-ble-faced-ness

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

/ˈdʌb.əlˌfeɪst.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('faced'). The first and last syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

dou/daʊ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ble/bl̩/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster, syllabic /l/.

faced/feɪst/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster, primary stress.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

double-(prefix)
+
face(root)
+
-edness(suffix)

Prefix: double-

Old English *du-* meaning 'two', multiplicative prefix.

Root: face

Old English *fæs*, noun denoting the front of the head.

Suffix: -edness

Combination of *-ed* (past tense/participle, adjectival function) and *-ness* (noun-forming suffix denoting a state or quality).

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality of being hypocritical or deceitful; presenting a different appearance to different people.

Examples:

"His double-facedness was eventually exposed."

"She accused him of double-facedness."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Shares the -ness suffix and similar suffixation pattern.

kindnesskind-ness

Shares the -ness suffix, simpler structure.

bitternessbit-ter-ness

Similar structure with a different root and -ness suffix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel followed by Consonant(s)

Syllables are generally divided after vowels, creating open or closed syllables.

Maximize Onsets

Consonant clusters are generally kept together at the beginning of a syllable (onset).

Syllabic Consonant

When /l/ follows a vowel and is not part of a consonant cluster, it can form a syllabic consonant.

Special Considerations

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

The geminate consonant 'bb' could theoretically lead to a division *dou-ble*, but this is less common and less natural.

Regional variations in vowel quality may occur but do not affect syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'double-facedness' is divided into four syllables: dou-ble-faced-ness. The primary stress falls on 'faced'. The word is morphologically complex, consisting of the prefix 'double-', the root 'face', and the suffix '-edness'. Syllable division follows standard English rules, prioritizing vowel-consonant boundaries and maximizing onsets.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "double-facedness" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "double-facedness" presents challenges due to the geminate consonant cluster "bb" and the complex suffixation. British English pronunciation generally exhibits non-rhoticity, meaning the 'r' sound is not pronounced after vowels unless followed by another vowel.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, which prioritize maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and respecting vowel sounds, the division is as follows:

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: double- (Old English du- meaning "two") - multiplicative prefix.
  • Root: face (Old English fæs) - noun, denoting the front of the head.
  • Suffix: -ed (Old English -ed) - past tense/participle marker, here functioning adjectivally.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes) - noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: 'faced'. This is typical for words with this morphological structure.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈdʌb.əlˌfeɪst.nəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • dou-: /daʊ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Potential exception: Geminate consonant cluster "bb" could theoretically lead to a division dou-ble, but this is less common and less sonically natural.
  • -ble: /bl̩/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Syllabic consonant /l/ due to following schwa.
  • -faced: /feɪst/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Primary stress.
  • -ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.

7. Edge Case Review:

The geminate consonant "bb" is a potential point of variation. While dividing after the first 'b' (dou-ble) is possible, it's less common and disrupts the natural flow of pronunciation. The current division maintains the consonant cluster within a single syllable, which is more typical.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Double-facedness" functions primarily as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality of being hypocritical or deceitful; presenting a different appearance to different people.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: hypocrisy, duplicity, insincerity, two-facedness
  • Antonyms: sincerity, honesty, frankness
  • Examples: "His double-facedness was eventually exposed." "She accused him of double-facedness."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables, but the core syllabification remains consistent. Regional variations in vowel quality (e.g., the /æ/ in 'faced') are possible but do not affect syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar suffixation (-ness). Stress on the second syllable.
  • kindness: kind-ness - Simpler structure, but shares the -ness suffix. Stress on the first syllable.
  • bitterness: bit-ter-ness - Similar structure with a different root. Stress on the first syllable.

The key difference in "double-facedness" is the initial geminate consonant and the compound prefix, which create a more complex syllable structure. The other words have simpler onsets and do not require the same consideration of consonant clusters.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/19/2025

The hottest word splits in English (GB)

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

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'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.