Hyphenation ofintercommunicability

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "intercommunicability" is a complex noun, relatively uncommon in everyday speech. Its pronunciation in GB English follows standard Received Pronunciation (RP) tendencies, with a tendency towards schwa reduction in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: inter- (Latin, meaning "between" or "among") - Function: Indicates reciprocity or exchange.
• Root: communic- (Latin, communicare - "to share") - Function: Core meaning of conveying information.
• Suffix: -ability (French/Latin, -abilitas) - Function: Forms a noun denoting capability or potential.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: in-ter-com-mu-ni-ca-bil-i-ty.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌɪntə(r)kəˌmjuːnɪkəˈbɪlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The presence of multiple vowels in sequence (e.g., ea in communicability) can sometimes lead to ambiguity. However, the rule of maximizing onsets generally applies, leading to the division observed.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word primarily functions as a noun. While theoretically it could be used adjectivally (e.g., "intercommunicability issues"), the stress pattern and syllabification remain consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of being able to communicate with each other.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: communicativeness, connectability, interchangeability
• Antonyms: isolation, disconnection, incommunicability
• Examples: "The intercommunicability of different computer systems is crucial for data sharing."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty (5 syllables) - Similar suffix -ibility. Stress on the third syllable.
• Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty (5 syllables) - Similar suffix -ibility. Stress on the third syllable.
• Communicative: com-mu-ni-ca-tive (5 syllables) - Shares the root communic-. Stress on the third syllable.

The syllable structure in "intercommunicability" is more complex due to the initial prefix inter-, which adds an extra syllable and alters the stress pattern compared to the other words. The consistent presence of the -ibility suffix maintains a similar syllable structure in the final portion of each word.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

• Onset Maximization: Prioritizing the inclusion of consonants in the onset of a syllable.
• Vowel-R Syllable Rule: 'r' following a vowel typically forms its own syllable.
• Glide-Vowel Syllable Rule: Semi-vowels (like 'j' in mu) combine with following vowels to form a syllable.
• Vowel-Consonant Syllable Rule: A vowel followed by a consonant typically forms a syllable.
• Consonant-Vowel Syllable Rule: A consonant followed by a vowel typically forms a syllable.
• Schwa Reduction: Unstressed vowels often reduce to schwa (/ə/) or are elided.

Special Considerations:

• The word's length and complexity make it prone to mispronunciation and varying syllabification in less formal speech.
• Regional accents in GB English might influence the pronunciation of the 'r' sound (rhotic vs. non-rhotic).

Short Analysis:

"Intercommunicability" is a 9-syllable noun with primary stress on the fifth syllable (/ˌɪntə(r)kəˌmjuːnɪkəˈbɪlɪti/). Syllabification follows standard English rules, prioritizing onset maximization and vowel-consonant pairings. The word is morphologically complex, built from Latin roots and suffixes.