Hyphenation ofirretrievability

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "irretrievability" is a complex noun, commonly pronounced with stress on the fifth syllable ("-triev-"). The pronunciation can vary slightly depending on regional accents within the UK, but the core syllable structure remains consistent.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and avoiding stranded consonants, is as follows: ir-re-triev-a-bil-i-ty.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: ir- (Old English un- + Latin in-) - negating prefix, meaning "not".
• Root: retrieve (Latin retrievare - to find again) - to get or bring something back; recover.
• Suffixes:
  • -able (Latin -abilis) - adjective-forming suffix, meaning "capable of being".
  • -ity (Latin -itas) - noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: ir-re-triev-a-bil-i-ty. Secondary stress may be present on the third syllable ("-triev-").

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪˌrɛtɹiːvəˈbɪlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-triev-" presents a potential edge case. While consonant clusters are common in English, the /tri/ sequence requires careful consideration. The rule of sonority sequencing dictates that sounds generally become more sonorous (vowel-like) as they move away from the syllable onset. This is maintained here.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Irretrievability" functions solely as a noun. As such, the syllable division and stress pattern remain constant.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of being impossible to recover or regain.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: irreparability, unrecoverability, hopelessness
• Antonyms: recoverability, retrievability
• Example Usage: "The loss of the data was complete; its irretrievability was a major blow to the project."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty (6 syllables, stress on -bil-) - Similar suffix structure (-ibility), but different onset.
• Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty (6 syllables, stress on -bil-) - Again, shares the -ibility suffix, demonstrating consistent syllabification of this morpheme.
• Credibility: cre-di-bil-i-ty (5 syllables, stress on -bil-) - Similar structure, highlighting the consistent application of syllable division rules.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):

The length of the word and the presence of multiple suffixes contribute to its complexity. However, the syllabification follows established English rules without major deviations.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Maximize Onsets: Consonant clusters are generally kept together in the onset of a syllable.
2. Avoid Stranded Consonants: Consonants are not left alone to form a syllable.
3. Vowel-Consonant Pattern: Syllables often follow a Vowel-Consonant (VC) or Consonant-Vowel (CV) pattern.
4. Sonority Sequencing: Sounds within a syllable generally increase in sonority from onset to nucleus.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might reduce the vowel in "ir-" to a schwa /ɪr/ becoming /ə/, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.