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Hyphenation ofirrespectability

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ir-re-spec-ta-bil-i-ty

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

/ˌɪr.rɪ.spek.təˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0100100

Primary stress on the fifth syllable ('bil'), secondary stress on the first syllable ('ir').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

ir/ɪr/

Open syllable, initial consonant cluster.

re/rɪ/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

spec/spek/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ta/tə/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

bil/bɪl/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

i/ɪ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ty/ti/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

ir-(prefix)
+
respect(root)
+
-ability(suffix)

Prefix: ir-

Old English, negation

Root: respect

Latin 'respectus', esteem

Suffix: -ability

Latin '-abilitas', forms abstract nouns

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of being disrespectful; lack of respect.

Examples:

"His irrespectability was evident in his constant interruptions."

"The student's irrespectability led to disciplinary action."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Similar suffix '-ability', stress on 'bil' syllable.

Accessibilityac-ces-si-bil-i-ty

Similar suffix '-ability', stress on 'bil' syllable.

Respectfullyre-spect-ful-ly

Contains the root 'spect', stress on 'spect'.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.

Consonant Cluster Division

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.

Stress-Timing

English is a stress-timed language, influencing syllable prominence.

Special Considerations

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

Initial 'ir-' prefix pronunciation as a single syllable.

Schwa reduction in unstressed syllables.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'irrespectability' is divided into seven syllables: ir-re-spec-ta-bil-i-ty. It consists of the prefix 'ir-', the root 'respect', and the suffix '-ability'. Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('bil'). Syllable division follows vowel-consonant and consonant cluster rules, typical of English phonology.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "irrespectability" is pronounced /ˌɪr.rɪ.spek.təˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ in General British English. It's a relatively complex word with multiple syllables and a secondary stress.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: ir-re-spec-ta-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: ir- (Old English ir- meaning "not"). Negation.
  • Root: respect (Latin respectus - "to look back at, regard"). Noun/Verb denoting esteem.
  • Suffix: -ability (Latin -abilitas). Forms abstract nouns denoting capability or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: ta-bil-i-ty. There is a secondary stress on the first syllable: ir-re-spec-ta-bil-i-ty.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌɪr.rɪ.spek.təˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "spec" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, it follows the standard syllable division pattern. The 'i' before 'ty' is often reduced to a schwa /ə/ in unstressed syllables.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Irrespectability" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if it were to function as another part of speech, as it is a derived noun.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of being disrespectful; lack of respect.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: discourtesy, rudeness, impudence, insolence
  • Antonyms: respectfulness, courtesy, politeness
  • Examples: "His irrespectability was evident in his constant interruptions." "The student's irrespectability led to disciplinary action."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar structure, stress on the 'bil' syllable.
  • Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty. Similar suffix, stress on the 'bil' syllable.
  • Respectfully: re-spect-ful-ly. Different suffix, but the 'spect' core remains, with stress on 'spect'.

The consistent stress on the 'bil' syllable across these words highlights the importance of the suffix '-ability' in determining stress placement. The initial syllable structure differs due to the prefixes and roots involved.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

  • ir-: /ɪr/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. Exception: Initial consonant cluster.
  • re-: /rɪ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant.
  • spec-: /spek/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant.
  • ta-: /tə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant.
  • bil-: /ˈbɪl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. Primary stress.
  • i-: /ˈɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant.
  • ty: /ti/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant (e.g., re-spec).
  2. Consonant Cluster Division: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable (e.g., ir-re).
  3. Stress-Timing: English is a stress-timed language, influencing syllable prominence.

Special Considerations:

The initial 'ir-' prefix can sometimes be pronounced as a single syllable /ɪr/, as in this case. The schwa reduction in unstressed syllables is a common feature of British English.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

American English might exhibit slightly different vowel qualities and stress patterns, but the syllable division would remain largely the same.

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

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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.