Hyphenation ofmetatarsophalangeal
Syllable Division:
met-a-tar-so-phal-an-ge-al
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌmɛtəˌtɑːrsəʊfəˈlændʒiːəl/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
00100010
Primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable ('lændʒ'). Syllables 'met' and 'so' receive secondary stress.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, onset 'm', rime 'et'
Syllable with schwa vowel
Open syllable, onset 't', rime 'ar'
Open syllable, onset 's', rime 'oʊ' (diphthong)
Open syllable, onset 'f', rime 'al'
Open syllable, onset 'n', rime 'an'
Open syllable, onset 'dʒ', rime 'iː'
Open syllable, onset 'l', rime 'əl'
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: meta-
Greek origin, meaning 'beyond' or 'after'
Root: tars-
Greek origin, referring to the ankle
Suffix: -eal
Latin origin, adjectival suffix
Relating to the metatarsus, tarsus, and phalanges of the foot.
Examples:
"metatarsophalangeal joint"
"metatarsophalangeal fracture"
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar syllable structure with multiple syllables and consonant clusters.
Similar syllable structure with Greek-derived roots.
Similar syllable structure with Greek-derived roots and multiple syllables.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Maximize Onsets
Consonants are assigned to the onset of the following syllable whenever possible, provided it doesn't violate phonotactic constraints.
Vowel Nucleus
Each syllable must contain a vowel sound, which serves as the nucleus.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The word's length and complex morphology can lead to variations in perceived syllable boundaries.
Regional accents may influence stress placement and vowel quality.
Summary:
The word 'metatarsophalangeal' is divided into eight syllables based on maximizing onsets and ensuring each syllable contains a vowel nucleus. It's a Greek and Latin-derived adjective relating to the foot, with primary stress on the antepenultimate syllable. Syllabification follows standard English (GB) rules, though length and complexity can introduce minor variations.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "metatarsophalangeal" (English (GB))
1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced /ˌmɛtəˌtɑːrsəʊfəˈlændʒiːəl/ in General British English.
2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets, is as follows (using only original letters):
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: meta- (Greek, meaning "beyond," "after," or "changing") - indicates position or relation.
- Root: tars- (Greek, meaning "ankle") - refers to the tarsal bones.
- Root: phalang- (Greek, meaning "finger" or "toe") - refers to the phalanges (bones of the fingers/toes).
- Suffix: -eal (Latin, adjectival suffix) - forms an adjective.
4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable: /ˌmɛtəˌtɑːrsəʊfəˈlændʒiːəl/.
5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌmɛtəˌtɑːrsəʊfəˈlændʒiːəl/
6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:
| Syllable | IPA Transcription | Rule Explanation | Potential Exceptions |
|---|---|---|---|
| met | /mɛt/ | Onset-Rime structure. 'm' is the onset, 'et' is the rime. | None |
| a | /ə/ | Syllable with a schwa vowel. | None |
| tar | /tɑːr/ | Onset-Rime structure. 't' is the onset, 'ar' is the rime. | None |
| so | /səʊ/ | Onset-Rime structure. 's' is the onset, 'oʊ' is the rime. Diphthong. | None |
| phal | /fæl/ | Onset-Rime structure. 'f' is the onset, 'al' is the rime. | None |
| an | /æn/ | Onset-Rime structure. 'f' is the onset, 'an' is the rime. | None |
| ge | /dʒiː/ | Onset-Rime structure. 'dʒ' is the onset, 'iː' is the rime. | None |
| al | /əl/ | Onset-Rime structure. 'l' is the onset, 'əl' is the rime. | None |
7. Syllable Division Rules Applied:
- Maximize Onsets: Attempt to include as many consonants as possible in the onset of each syllable.
- Vowel as Syllable Nucleus: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound (nucleus).
- Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are generally split according to phonotactic constraints, favoring the preservation of onsets.
8. Exceptions & Special Cases:
- The word's length and complex morphology make it prone to mis-syllabification.
- The presence of multiple vowels in close proximity requires careful consideration of vowel elision or diphthong formation.
9. Grammatical Role: The word primarily functions as an adjective. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of grammatical function.
10. Regional Variations: Pronunciation and stress patterns can vary slightly between different dialects of English (GB). However, the core syllable division remains largely consistent.
11. Phonological Comparison:
- Photography: pho-to-gra-phy - Similar structure with multiple syllables and consonant clusters.
- Psychology: psy-cho-lo-gy - Similar structure with Greek-derived roots.
- Anthropology: an-thro-po-lo-gy - Similar structure with Greek-derived roots and multiple syllables.
These words demonstrate a consistent pattern of syllable division based on vowel nuclei and maximizing onsets. The length of "metatarsophalangeal" simply extends this pattern.
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