HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofnonbarbarousness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-bar-ba-rous-ness

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/ˌnɒn.bɑːˈbær.əs.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00010

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('rous'). The stress pattern follows the general rule of penultimate stress in longer words, influenced by the suffix '-ness'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

non/nɒn/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

bar/bɑː/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ba/bæ/

Open syllable, vowel preceded by consonant.

rous/rəs/

Closed syllable, stressed syllable.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, final syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

non-(prefix)
+
barbar-(root)
+
-ousness(suffix)

Prefix: non-

Latin origin, negation

Root: barbar-

Greek/Latin origin, 'foreign, uncivilized'

Suffix: -ousness

Latin/Old English origin, adjective/noun formation

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state of not being barbarous; lack of savagery or crudeness.

Examples:

"The archaeologist noted the increasing nonbarbarousness of the settlement over time."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix and similar morphological structure.

kindnesskind-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix, simpler structure.

beautifulnessbeau-ti-ful-ness

Longer word with multiple syllables and suffixes, demonstrating stress variation.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Maximize Onsets

Prioritizing consonant clusters at the beginning of syllables.

Avoid Stranded Consonants

Ensuring consonants are not left at the end of a syllable without a following vowel.

Vowel-Consonant Division

Dividing syllables after vowels when followed by consonants.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

The length of the word and the multiple suffixes contribute to its complexity.

Subtle vowel pronunciation variations may occur across GB English dialects, but do not affect syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'nonbarbarousness' is divided into five syllables: non-bar-ba-rous-ness. It features a prefix 'non-', a root 'barbar-', and suffixes '-ous' and '-ness'. Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('rous'). Syllabification follows standard English rules prioritizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "nonbarbarousness" presents challenges due to its length and complex morphology. In GB English, the 'r' after a vowel is generally pronounced (rhoticity), influencing syllable weight. The vowel sounds will be relatively standard, but the sequence of consonants requires careful consideration for syllable onsets and codas.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, which prioritize maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and avoiding stranded consonants, the division will be: non-bar-ba-rous-ness.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin origin, meaning 'not'). Morphological function: negation.
  • Root: barbar- (Greek origin, via Latin, meaning 'foreign, uncivilized'). Morphological function: lexical core.
  • Suffix: -ous (Latin origin, forming adjectives meaning 'having the quality of'). Morphological function: adjective formation.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English origin, forming nouns denoting a state or quality). Morphological function: noun formation.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: rous. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words of this length and complexity, and the presence of the suffix "-ness" often attracts stress.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɒn.bɑːˈbær.əs.nəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • non-: /nɒn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: Initial syllable often allows for simpler codas.
  • bar-: /bɑː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by consonant.
  • ba-: /bæ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by consonant.
  • rous-: /rəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). This syllable receives primary stress.
  • ness-: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).

7. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "barbarous" is relatively common, and the syllabification is standard. The length of the word and the multiple suffixes are the main complexities.

8. Grammatical Role:

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

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state of not being barbarous; lack of savagery or crudeness.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: civilization, refinement, culture, sophistication.
  • Antonyms: barbarity, savagery, crudeness, uncivilizedness.
  • Example Usage: "The archaeologist noted the increasing nonbarbarousness of the settlement over time."

10. Regional Variations:

While the core syllabification is consistent across GB English dialects, subtle variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /ɑː/ vs. /æ/ in "bar") might occur. These variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar structure with a suffix "-ness". Stress on the second syllable.
  • kindness: kind-ness - Simpler structure, but shares the "-ness" suffix. Stress on the first syllable.
  • beautifulness: beau-ti-ful-ness - Longer word with multiple syllables and suffixes. Stress on the third syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the number of syllables and the inherent rhythmic patterns of each word. "Nonbarbarousness" has a more complex root and a greater number of syllables, leading to stress on the fourth syllable.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

The hottest word splits in English (GB)

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.