Hyphenation ofirresponsibility

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "irresponsibility" is pronounced /ɪˌrɛspɒnsɪˈbɪlɪti/ in General British English. It's a relatively long word with multiple syllables, and stress placement is crucial for correct pronunciation.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: ir- (Old English un- via French in-) - negating prefix, meaning "not".
• Root: respons- (Latin responsum - a response) - meaning "answerable" or "liable".
• Suffix: -ibility (Latin -abilitas) - forming abstract nouns denoting a quality or state.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: /ɪˌrɛspɒnsɪˈbɪlɪti/. The secondary stress falls on the second syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪˌrɛspɒnsɪˈbɪlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-spon-" can sometimes be a point of ambiguity, but in this case, the vowel sound clearly separates it into two syllables. The "-ility" ending is a common suffix and follows standard syllabification patterns.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Irresponsibility" primarily functions as a noun. While it's possible to conceive of a highly unusual, derived usage as an adverb (e.g., "He acted with irresponsibility"), the syllabification and stress remain consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The state or quality of being irresponsible; lack of responsibility.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: recklessness, carelessness, negligence, dereliction.
• Antonyms: responsibility, accountability, conscientiousness.
• Examples: "His irresponsibility led to the project's failure." "She showed a shocking lack of irresponsibility."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Similar structure, stress on the fourth syllable. The addition of the 'ir-' prefix simply adds a syllable at the beginning.
• Possibility: pos-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix '-ibility', stress on the third syllable. The initial consonant cluster differs, affecting the first syllable.
• Sensibility: sen-si-bil-i-ty - Again, the '-ibility' suffix is present, stress on the third syllable. The initial consonant blend differs, influencing the first syllable.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant (VC) Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound followed by a consonant sound (e.g., ir-, re-).
2. Consonant Cluster Division: When consonant clusters occur, syllables are divided to separate the sounds (e.g., spon-).
3. Vowel-Vowel Division: When two vowels appear together, they are usually separated into different syllables (not applicable here, but a general rule).

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology require careful attention to stress placement and syllable boundaries. The 'ir-' prefix is a common feature in English and doesn't present significant challenges.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents General British English, some regional variations might exist in vowel quality or stress intensity. However, the core syllable division remains consistent.

Short Analysis:

"Irresponsibility" is a seven-syllable word (ir-re-spon-si-bil-i-ty) with primary stress on the fourth syllable. It's formed from the prefix 'ir-', the root 'respons-', and the suffix '-ibility'. Syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and consonant cluster separation.