Hyphenation ofirresponsibleness

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "irresponsibleness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in GB English follows standard Received Pronunciation (RP) tendencies, with a tendency towards vowel 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: ir- (Old English, negative prefix, meaning "not")
• Root: respons- (Latin responsum – a response, meaning "answerable, liable")
• Suffix: -ible- (Latin -bilis, adjectival suffix meaning "able to be")
• Suffix: -ness- (Old English -nes, noun-forming suffix denoting state or quality)

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: ir-re-spon-si-ble-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪrɪˌspɒnsɪˈbl̩nəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

• ir-: /ɪr/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset + Rhyme. No exceptions.
• re-: /rɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset + Rhyme. No exceptions.
• spon-: /spɒn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset + Rhyme. The 'n' closes the syllable.
• si-: /sɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset + Rhyme. No exceptions.
• ble-: /bl̩/ - Closed syllable. Syllabic consonant /l̩/. Rule: Onset + Rhyme. The /l/ functions as a syllable nucleus.
• ness: /nəs/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset + Rhyme. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

The syllabic /l/ in "ble" is a common feature in English, but it can sometimes be pronounced as a full vowel + /l/ sequence, especially in slower speech. This doesn't affect the syllable division, however.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Irresponsibleness" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of being irresponsible.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: recklessness, carelessness, irresponsibility
• Antonyms: responsibility, prudence, accountability
• Examples: "His utter irresponsibleness led to the project's failure."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents RP, some regional variations exist. For example, some speakers might pronounce the /ɒ/ in "spon" as /ɔː/. This would not alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: /rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪləti/ - Syllables: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar structure, but with an additional syllable due to the "-ity" suffix.
• Impossible: /ɪmˈpɒsɪbl̩/ - Syllables: im-pos-si-ble. Similar structure with a different prefix and root. The syllabic /l/ is present.
• Sensibleness: /ˈsensɪbl̩nəs/ - Syllables: sen-si-ble-ness. Similar suffix structure, but a different root. The syllabic /l/ is present.

These comparisons demonstrate the consistent application of syllable division rules based on vowel/consonant sequences and the presence of syllabic consonants.