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Hyphenation ofinfinitesimality

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

in-fin-i-tes-i-mal-i-ty

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

/ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməˈlɪti/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0000110

Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('mal'). Secondary stress on the first syllable ('in').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

in/ɪn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

fin/fɪn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

i/i/

Open syllable, unstressed.

tes/tɛs/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

i/i/

Open syllable, unstressed.

mal/mæl/

Open syllable, primary stress.

i/i/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ty/ti/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

in-(prefix)
+
finit-(root)
+
-esim-al-ity(suffix)

Prefix: in-

Latin origin, negation

Root: finit-

Latin origin, limit/end

Suffix: -esim-al-ity

Latin origin, diminutive, adjectival, nominalizing

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of being infinitely or extremely small; an immeasurably small quantity.

Examples:

"The infinitesimality of the particle was difficult to comprehend."

"He dismissed his concerns as mere infinitesimality."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

probabilitypro-ba-bi-li-ty

Shares the '-ity' suffix and similar vowel-consonant patterns.

originalityo-ri-gi-na-li-ty

Shares the '-ity' suffix and similar vowel-consonant patterns, but is longer.

universalityu-ni-ver-sa-li-ty

Shares the '-ity' suffix and similar vowel-consonant patterns, but is longer and has different vowel sounds.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant-Vowel (VCV)

Syllables are divided between vowels when possible (e.g., in-fin-i).

Consonant Clusters

Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless easily separable (e.g., tes-i).

Suffix Division

Suffixes are often separated into their own syllables, especially when they contain vowels (e.g., -mal-i-ty).

Special Considerations

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

The word's length and complex morphology require careful application of syllable division rules.

The vowel sounds and consonant clusters are relatively straightforward, posing no significant challenges.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'infinitesimality' is divided into eight syllables: in-fin-i-tes-i-mal-i-ty. It is of Latin origin, with a prefix 'in-', root 'finit-', and suffixes '-esim-al-ity'. Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('mal'). Syllable division follows standard VCV, consonant cluster, and suffix division rules.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation: The word "infinitesimality" is pronounced /ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməˈlɪti/ in General British English.

2. Syllable Division: in-fin-i-tes-i-mal-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: in- (Latin, meaning "not" or "into") - Negation.
  • Root: finit- (Latin, meaning "limit" or "end") - Core meaning relating to limits.
  • Suffix: -esim- (Latin, diminutive suffix, meaning "extremely small") - Intensifier.
  • Suffix: -al- (Latin, adjectival suffix) - Forms an adjective.
  • Suffix: -ity (Latin, nominalizing suffix) - Forms a noun denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: /ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməˈlɪti/. A secondary stress is present on the first syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməˈlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review: The sequence "-tesi-" is relatively uncommon, but follows standard syllabification rules. The presence of multiple suffixes is typical for words of Latinate origin.

7. Grammatical Role: "Infinitesimality" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of being infinitely or extremely small; an immeasurably small quantity.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: minuteness, triviality, insignificance, immeasurability
  • Antonyms: vastness, enormity, magnitude, importance
  • Examples: "The infinitesimality of the particle was difficult to comprehend." "He dismissed his concerns as mere infinitesimality."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Probability: pro-ba-bi-li-ty (5 syllables) - Similar suffix "-ity", stress pattern differs.
  • Originality: o-ri-gi-na-li-ty (6 syllables) - Similar suffix "-ity", longer word, more syllables.
  • Universality: u-ni-ver-sa-li-ty (6 syllables) - Similar suffix "-ity", different vowel sounds, more syllables.

The syllable division in "infinitesimality" is consistent with these words in terms of vowel-consonant sequencing and the application of syllable division rules around suffixes. The differences in syllable count are due to the length of the root morphemes.

10. Division Rules:

  • Rule 1: Vowel-Consonant-Vowel (VCV): Syllables are typically divided between vowels. (e.g., in-fin-i)
  • Rule 2: Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they are easily separable. (e.g., tes-i)
  • Rule 3: Suffix Division: Suffixes are often separated into their own syllables, especially when they contain vowels. (e.g., -mal-i-ty)
  • Rule 4: Stress and Syllable Weight: Stress influences syllable weight and can affect division.

11. Special Considerations: The word's length and complex morphology require careful application of syllable division rules. The vowel sounds and consonant clusters are relatively straightforward, posing no significant challenges.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: While the provided IPA transcription represents General British English, some regional variations might exist in vowel pronunciation. These variations would not significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/13/2025

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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.