Hyphenation ofintercommunicate
Syllable Division:
in-ter-com-mu-ni-cate
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌɪntə(r)kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
0 0 0 1 0
Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('mu'). The stress pattern is 0 (unstressed) - 0 (unstressed) - 0 (unstressed) - 1 (primary stress) - 0 (unstressed).
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, initial syllable.
Open syllable, potential glide.
Open syllable.
Open syllable, semivowel.
Open syllable.
Closed syllable, final syllable.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: inter-
Latin origin, meaning 'between' or 'among', indicates reciprocal action.
Root: communic-
Latin origin (communicare), meaning 'to share, impart', core meaning of conveying information.
Suffix: -ate
Latin origin, adjectival suffix turned verbal, forms a verb.
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Shares the root 'communic-', similar suffix structure and stress pattern.
Shares the 'in-' prefix and '-ate' suffix, similar syllable structure.
Shares the 'ter-' prefix and '-ate' suffix, similar morphological structure.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Maximize Onsets
Syllables are formed around vowel sounds, attempting to include as many preceding consonants as possible in the onset.
Vowel Division
Each vowel sound generally forms the nucleus of a syllable.
Closed Syllable Rule
A syllable ending in a consonant is considered 'closed'.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The pronunciation of the 'r' in 'ter-' varies between rhotic and non-rhotic accents, potentially affecting the perceived syllable division.
The word's consistent structure and lack of inflection mean that syllable division and stress remain constant regardless of grammatical context.
Summary:
The word 'intercommunicate' is divided into six syllables: in-ter-com-mu-ni-cate. It consists of the prefix 'inter-', the root 'communic-', and the suffix '-ate'. The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable. Syllable division follows the principle of maximizing onsets and forming syllables around vowel sounds. Regional variations in 'r' pronunciation may affect phonetic realization but not syllable division in GB English.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "intercommunicate" (English (GB))
1. Pronunciation:
The word "intercommunicate" is pronounced /ˌɪntə(r)kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/ in General British English. The (r) represents a non-rhotic pronunciation, where the 'r' is not pronounced after a vowel unless followed by another vowel.
2. Syllable Division:
The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets, is: in-ter-com-mu-ni-cate.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: inter- (Latin, meaning "between" or "among") - Function: Indicates reciprocal action.
- Root: communic- (Latin communicare, meaning "to share, impart") - Function: Core meaning of conveying information.
- Suffix: -ate (Latin, adjectival suffix turned verbal) - Function: Forms a verb from the root.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌɪntə(r)kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/. The stress pattern is 0 0 0 1 0.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˌɪntə(r)kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/
6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:
- in-: /ɪn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No consonant clusters prevent division here.
- ter-: /tə(r)/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). The (r) is a potential glide, but doesn't prevent syllable division.
- com-: /kəm/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by consonant(s).
- mu-: /mjuː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Semivowel 'm' followed by vowel.
- ni-: /nɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel.
- cate: /keɪt/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster at the end of the syllable.
7. Edge Case Review:
The 'r' in "ter" is a potential point of variation. In rhotic accents (e.g., American English), it would be pronounced, potentially influencing the syllable division (ter-com-). However, in non-rhotic GB English, it's often dropped or reduced to a schwa.
8. Grammatical Role:
"Intercommunicate" primarily functions as a verb. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function, as it's not inflected.
9. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: To communicate reciprocally; to exchange information.
- Grammatical Category: Verb (transitive)
- Synonyms: correspond, exchange, converse, impart
- Antonyms: withhold, conceal, suppress
- Examples:
- "The two scientists intercommunicated regularly to share their findings."
- "The diplomats intercommunicated through a secure channel."
10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
As mentioned, rhotic accents would pronounce the 'r' in "ter", potentially leading to a slightly different phonetic realization and a perceived shift in syllable weight.
11. Phonological Comparison:
- communicate: com-mu-ni-cate - Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
- indicate: in-di-cate - Similar prefix and suffix structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
- terminate: ter-mi-nate - Shares the "ter-" prefix, stress on the antepenultimate syllable. The difference in stress is due to the vowel quality and syllable weight of the following syllables.
- participate: par-ti-ci-pate - Similar suffix structure, stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
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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.