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Hyphenation ofincommensurableness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

in-com-men-sur-a-ble-ness

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

/ɪn.kɒmˈmensjʊrəbl.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100000

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('men'), indicated by '1'. All other syllables are unstressed ('0').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

in/ɪn/

Open syllable, single vowel sound.

com/kɒm/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

men/men/

Closed syllable, single vowel sound.

sur/sʊr/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

a/ə/

Open syllable, schwa vowel.

ble/blə/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

in-(prefix)
+
commensur-(root)
+
-able-ness(suffix)

Prefix: in-

Latin origin, negative prefix.

Root: commensur-

Latin origin, relating to measure.

Suffix: -able-ness

Latin and Old English origins, forming adjective and then noun.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of being immeasurable or incomparable.

Examples:

"The incommensurableness of grief is often overwhelming."

"There is an incommensurableness between the artist's vision and the limitations of the medium."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

immeasurableim-meas-ur-a-ble

Similar suffix structure and overall length.

incomparablein-com-par-a-ble

Similar prefix and suffix structure.

unquestionableun-ques-tion-a-ble

Similar suffix structure and overall length.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Based Syllabification

Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters following a vowel sound are typically grouped with the preceding vowel.

Avoid Morpheme Splitting

Syllable division attempts to avoid splitting meaningful morphemes.

Special Considerations

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

Regional variations in pronunciation might affect vowel realization, but the core syllable division remains consistent.

The consonant cluster '-mens-' could be analyzed differently, but the current division is common in GB English.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Incommensurableness is a nine-syllable noun with primary stress on the fourth syllable. It's formed from Latin roots and follows standard GB English syllabification rules, prioritizing vowel sounds and avoiding morpheme splitting.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "incommensurableness" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:

The word "incommensurableness" is a complex noun, derived from Latin roots. Its pronunciation in GB English is approximately /ɪn.kɒmˈmensjʊrəbl.nəs/. It presents challenges due to its length and multiple morphemes.

2. Syllable Division:

Following GB English syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid splitting consonant clusters where possible, the division is as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: in- (Latin, meaning "not") - negates the meaning.
  • Root: commensur- (Latin commensus, past participle of commere "to measure") - relating to a common measure.
  • Suffix: -able (Latin -abilis) - forming adjectives meaning "capable of being".
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes) - forming nouns denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: /ɪn.kɒmˈmensjʊrəbl.nəs/. This is typical for words of this length and structure, with stress receding from the end.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪn.kɒmˈmensjʊrəbl.nəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

  • in /ɪn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Every vowel sound constitutes a syllable. No exceptions.
  • com /kɒm/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters following a vowel sound form a syllable. No exceptions.
  • men /men/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Every vowel sound constitutes a syllable. No exceptions.
  • sur /sʊr/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters following a vowel sound form a syllable. No exceptions.
  • a /ə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Every vowel sound constitutes a syllable. No exceptions.
  • ble /blə/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters following a vowel sound form a syllable. No exceptions.
  • ness /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Every vowel sound constitutes a syllable. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

The consonant cluster "-mens-" could potentially be divided differently in some analyses, but the current division reflects common GB English pronunciation and avoids splitting a meaningful morpheme.

8. Grammatical Role:

The word primarily functions as a noun. While theoretically an adjective could be formed ("incommensurable"), the syllabification would remain the same.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of being immeasurable or incomparable.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: incomparability, immeasurability, disproportion
  • Antonyms: comparability, measurability, proportion
  • Examples: "The incommensurableness of grief is often overwhelming." "There is an incommensurableness between the artist's vision and the limitations of the medium."

10. Phonological Comparison:

  • Immeasurable: im-meas-ur-a-ble. Similar structure, stress on the third syllable.
  • Incomparable: in-com-par-a-ble. Similar prefix and suffix structure, stress on the third syllable.
  • Unquestionable: un-ques-tion-a-ble. Similar suffix structure, stress on the third syllable.

The differences in syllable division are primarily due to the varying length and complexity of the root morphemes. "Incommensurableness" has a longer and more complex root than the other words, leading to more syllables.

11. Division Rules:

  • Vowel-Based Syllabification: Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters following a vowel sound are typically grouped with the preceding vowel.
  • Avoid Morpheme Splitting: Syllable division attempts to avoid splitting meaningful morphemes.

12. Special Considerations:

Regional variations in pronunciation might affect the precise realization of vowel sounds, but the core syllable division remains consistent.

13. Short Analysis:

"Incommensurableness" is a nine-syllable noun with primary stress on the fourth syllable (/ɪn.kɒmˈmensjʊrəbl.nəs/). It's formed from Latin roots and follows standard GB English syllabification rules, prioritizing vowel sounds and avoiding morpheme splitting.

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

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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.