Hyphenation ofincomprehensibility

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "incomprehensibility" is a complex noun, pronounced with a relatively even distribution of stress, though a primary stress falls on the fourth syllable. The pronunciation varies slightly depending on regional accents within the UK, but the core syllabic structure remains consistent.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and avoiding stranded consonants, is as follows: in-com-pre-hen-si-bil-i-ty.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: in- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
• Root: comprehend (Latin comprehendere - to grasp entirely) - To understand.
• Suffixes:
  • -en- (Latin, adjectival suffix) - Forms an adjective from the verb.
  • -sible (Latin abilis - capable of) - Indicates capability or possibility.
  • -ity (Latin itas - quality of) - Forms an abstract noun denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: in-com-pre-hen-si-bil-i-ty. Secondary stress is present on the first syllable: in-com-pre-hen-si-bil-i-ty.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪnˌkɒmprɪˌhenˈsɪbɪlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-hen-" can sometimes be reduced in rapid speech, but the full form is standard. The "-ility" ending is a common suffix and doesn't present unusual syllabification challenges.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word functions solely as a noun. As a noun, the stress pattern remains consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of being incomprehensible; the inability to be understood.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: obscurity, unintelligibility, unfathomability, incomprehension
• Antonyms: clarity, comprehensibility, understandability
• Examples: "The complexity of the theory led to its incomprehensibility for most students."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty (5 syllables) - Similar suffix structure (-ibility), stress on the third syllable.
• Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty (5 syllables) - Similar suffix structure (-ibility), stress on the third syllable.
• Comprehension: com-pre-hen-sion (4 syllables) - Shares the root "comprehend", stress on the third syllable.

The key difference lies in the length of the prefix and the addition of the final "-ity" suffix in "incomprehensibility", leading to a greater number of syllables. The shared "-ibility" suffix consistently attracts stress in these words.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):

The length of the word and the multiple suffixes create a complex structure, but the syllabification follows standard English rules without major exceptions.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Onset-Rime Division: Dividing syllables based on the consonant-vowel boundary, maximizing the consonant cluster in the onset.
2. Vowel-Consonant Division: When a vowel is followed by a consonant, the syllable is typically divided before the consonant.
3. Vowel Alone: A single vowel constitutes a syllable.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel sounds in unstressed syllables, but the core syllabic structure remains consistent.