Hyphenation ofirresponsibilities

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

1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:

The word "irresponsibilities" is a complex noun in British English. It consists of multiple morphemes and presents challenges in syllabification due to its length and consonant clusters. The pronunciation will be key to accurate division.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: ir- (Old English, negative prefix, meaning "not")
• Root: respons- (Latin responsum – a response, meaning "answerable, liable")
• Suffix: -ible (Latin -bilis, adjectival suffix meaning "capable of being")
• Suffix: -ities (Latin -itates, nominal suffix forming abstract nouns denoting qualities or states)

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: ir-re-spon-si-bil-i-ties.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪrɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪlɪtiːz/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

• ir /ɪr/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset + Rhyme. No exceptions.
• re /rɛ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset + Rhyme. No exceptions.
• spon /spɒn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster permissible as onset. No exceptions.
• si /sɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset + Rhyme. No exceptions.
• bil /bɪl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset + Rhyme. No exceptions.
• i /ɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset + Rhyme. No exceptions.
• ties /tiːz/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset + Rhyme. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

The consonant cluster "sp" in "spon" is a common onset in English and doesn't present an edge case. The vowel sequences are also standard. The length of the word is the primary challenge, but the rules apply consistently.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Irresponsibilities" primarily functions as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context.

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Plural form of irresponsibility; the state or quality of being irresponsible; lack of accountability or sense of duty.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: recklessness, carelessness, negligence, dereliction
• Antonyms: responsibility, accountability, conscientiousness
• Examples: "His irresponsibilities led to the project's failure." "She criticized his lack of irresponsibilities."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents standard British English, some regional variations might exist in vowel quality (e.g., /ɪ/ vs. /iː/ in unstressed syllables). However, these variations wouldn't significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibilities: re-spon-si-bil-i-ties /rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪlɪtiːz/ - Syllable division is similar, differing only in the initial prefix.
• Possibilities: pos-si-bil-i-ties /ˌpɒsɪˈbɪlɪtiːz/ - Similar structure with "-ibilities" suffix, demonstrating consistent syllabification.
• Sensibilities: sen-si-bil-i-ties /ˌsɛnsɪˈbɪlɪtiːz/ - Again, the "-ibilities" suffix maintains consistent syllabification. The difference lies in the initial onset.