Hyphenation ofnondiabolicalness

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "nondiabolicalness" is a complex word formed through multiple affixations. Pronunciation in GB English will generally follow standard Received Pronunciation (RP) or a similar accent. The 'a' in 'diabolical' is typically pronounced /æ/ (as in 'cat'), and the 'o' is often reduced to /ə/ in unstressed syllables.

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 word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: non- (Old French origin, meaning 'not'). Morphological function: negation.
• Root: diabolical (Latin diabolicus from diabolus 'devil'). Morphological function: adjective, relating to the devil or extremely wicked.
• Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes, from Proto-Germanic *-nass). Morphological function: noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: di-abol-i-cal-ness. This is determined by the typical stress patterns of English words with multiple suffixes, where stress tends to fall on the root or the syllable immediately preceding the final suffix.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɒnˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪkl̩nəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

• non-: /ˈnɒn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: None.
• di-: /ˈdaɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by consonant. Exception: None.
• a-: /ə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. Exception: Schwa reduction is common in unstressed syllables.
• bol-: /ˈbɒl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Exception: None.
• i-: /ˈɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by consonant. Exception: None.
• cal-: /kl̩/ - Closed syllable with syllabic consonant. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Exception: The /l/ is syllabic, acting as a vowel.
• ness: /nəs/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by consonant. Exception: None.

7. Edge Case Review:

The syllabic /l/ in "cal" is a potential edge case. While not always present, syllabic consonants are common in English and affect syllable division. The word's length and complex morphology also contribute to potential ambiguity in syllable boundaries for less experienced phonologists.

8. Grammatical Role:

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

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The state or quality of not being diabolical; harmlessness, innocence.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: Innocence, harmlessness, goodness, virtue.
• Antonyms: Wickedness, evil, malice, diabolism.
• Example Usage: "The nondiabolicalness of the child's intentions was clear."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /ɑː/ instead of /ɒ/ in some dialects) might occur, but these variations do not significantly alter the syllable division. Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "diabolical" further, but the syllable boundaries remain the same.

11. Phonological Comparison:

• Impossibility: im-pos-si-bil-i-ty. Similar structure with prefixes and suffixes. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Unbelievability: un-be-liev-a-bil-i-ty. Similar structure, stress on the third syllable.
• Unpredictableness: un-pre-dict-a-ble-ness. Similar structure, stress on the third syllable.

These words demonstrate a consistent pattern: prefixes, root, and suffixes, with stress typically falling on the root or the syllable immediately preceding the final suffix. The presence of complex consonant clusters and schwa reduction are also common features.