Hyphenation ofnonmeasurability

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "nonmeasurability" presents challenges due to its length and complex morphology. In GB English, the 'r' after a vowel is generally pronounced (rhoticity), influencing syllable weight. Vowel reduction is expected in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, we prioritize vowel sounds as syllable nuclei. Consonant clusters are generally split based on sonority, with preference for maintaining onsets.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: non- (Latin, meaning 'not') - Negation.
• Root: measure (Latin mensurare - to measure) - The core meaning of assessment.
• Suffix: -ability (Latin -abilitas) - Forms abstract nouns denoting capability or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: non-mea-sur-a-bil-i-ty. This is determined by the typical stress patterns in English words with suffixes like '-ability'.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɒnˌmɛʒəˈbɪlɪti/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

• non /nɒn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: Initial syllable often carries less stress.
• mea /mɛə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
• sur /ʒə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). The 's' is voiced due to the following vowel.
• a /ə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Single vowel constitutes a syllable. Schwa sound due to unstressed position.
• bil /bɪl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Primary stress.
• i /ɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Single vowel constitutes a syllable.
• ty /ti/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.

7. Edge Case Review:

The sequence 'sur' can sometimes be problematic, but in this case, the vowel sound clearly separates it into a distinct syllable. The 'mea' syllable is relatively weak and could potentially be reduced further in rapid speech.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Nonmeasurability" functions primarily as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context.

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of being impossible to measure.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: immeasurability, unmeasurability
• Antonyms: measurability
• Examples: "The nonmeasurability of subjective experiences poses a challenge to scientific inquiry."

10. Phonological Comparison:

• possibility: pos-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix '-ability', stress pattern.
• reliability: re-li-a-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix '-ability', stress pattern.
• accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix '-ability', stress pattern.

The consistent stress on the 'bil' syllable across these words demonstrates the influence of the suffix in determining stress placement. The initial syllable structures differ due to the varying consonant clusters.

11. Division Rules:

• Vowel Nucleus Rule: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
• Onset-Rime Rule: Syllables are divided into an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a rime (vowel and following consonants).
• Sonority Sequencing Principle: Consonant clusters are split to maximize sonority within the onset and coda.
• Stress-Timing Rule: English is a stress-timed language, influencing syllable duration and vowel reduction.

12. Special Considerations:

The prefix 'non-' is generally treated as a separate syllable. The schwa sound in unstressed syllables is a common feature of GB English.

13. Short Analysis:

"Nonmeasurability" is a seven-syllable noun with primary stress on the fifth syllable ('bil'). It's formed from the prefix 'non-', the root 'measure', and the suffix '-ability'. Syllable division follows vowel nucleus and onset-rime principles, with stress influenced by the suffix.