Hyphenation ofill-temperedness

Linguistic Analysis of "ill-temperedness" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:

The word "ill-temperedness" is a complex noun denoting a state of having a bad temper. Its pronunciation in GB English is approximately /ɪlˈtempədəndəs/. It presents challenges due to the prefix "ill-", the compound adjective "tempered", and the suffix "-ness".

2. Syllable Division:

Following GB English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows (using only original letters): ill-tem-pered-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: "ill-" (Germanic origin, intensifying prefix, meaning 'badly' or 'not'). Morphological function: Derivational.
• Root: "temper" (Old French temperer from Latin temperare meaning 'to mix in due proportion', 'moderate'). Morphological function: Lexical root.
• Suffix: "-ed" (Anglo-Saxon origin, past participle/adjective forming suffix). Morphological function: Derivational.
• Suffix: "-ness" (Old English -nes, from Proto-Germanic -nass). Morphological function: Derivational, forming a noun of state from an adjective.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable: tem. This is typical for words derived from verbs with suffixes like "-ed" and "-ness".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪlˈtempədəndəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

• ill: /ɪl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable. Exception: The 'l' is syllabified with the vowel due to sonority sequencing.
• tem: /tem/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset-rime structure. 't' is the onset, 'em' is the rime.
• pered: /pəd/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant-vowel-consonant structure. 'p' is the onset, 'er' is the rime.
• ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant-vowel-consonant structure. 'n' is the onset, 'əs' is the rime.

7. Edge Case Review & Exceptions:

The "ill-" prefix is a potential edge case. While often treated as a separate syllable, it's tightly bound to the root and can sometimes be considered part of the first syllable ("illtemperedness" pronounced as a single unit by some speakers). However, the hyphenated form and common pronunciation support separate syllabification.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Ill-temperedness" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of being easily angered; a disposition to become angry.
• Translation: (N/A - English)
• Synonyms: irritability, bad temper, choler, petulance.
• Antonyms: good temper, patience, equanimity.
• Examples: "His ill-temperedness made him difficult to work with." "She excused his outburst as a sign of his ill-temperedness."

10. Regional Variations:

While the core syllabification remains consistent across GB English dialects, subtle variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., the 'e' in "tempered") might occur. These variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

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

The consistent stress on the penultimate syllable in these words (except "kindness") demonstrates a common pattern in English noun formation with the "-ness" suffix. The differences in syllable division are primarily due to the varying complexity of the preceding root (e.g., "ill-tempered" vs. "bitter" vs. "kind").