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Hyphenation ofnonself-governing

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-self-gov-er-ning

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

/ˌnɒnˈselfˈɡʌvənɪŋ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00101

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('gov'). The first and fourth syllables are unstressed, while the second and fifth syllables receive secondary stress.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

non/nɒn/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

self/self/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

gov/ɡʌv/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant, primary stress.

er/ə/

Open syllable, schwa sound.

ning/nɪŋ/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant(s).

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non-(prefix)
+
self-govern(root)
+
-ing(suffix)

Prefix: non-

Latin origin, negation.

Root: self-govern

Old English/Latin origin, reflexive action and rule.

Suffix: -ing

Old English origin, present participle.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Not subject to self-rule or independent governance.

Examples:

"The territory remained a nonself-governing region for many years."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

understandingun-der-stand-ing

Similar structure with prefixes and suffixes.

unbelievableun-be-liev-a-ble

Similar prefix 'un-'.

overlookingo-ver-look-ing

Similar suffix '-ing'.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel followed by consonant(s)

Syllables are typically divided after a vowel sound, especially when followed by one or more consonants.

Maximize Onsets

Consonant clusters are generally kept together at the beginning of a syllable (onset).

Special Considerations

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

The compound 'self-' can sometimes be considered a bound morpheme.

Regional variations in vowel quality may exist, but do not significantly alter syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'nonself-governing' is divided into five syllables: non-self-gov-er-ning. The primary stress falls on 'gov'. It's an adjective meaning 'not self-governing', formed from the prefix 'non-', the root 'self-govern', and the suffix '-ing'. Syllabification follows standard English rules of maximizing onsets and respecting vowel sounds.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "nonself-governing" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "nonself-governing" presents challenges due to the prefix "non-", the compound "self-", and the complex verb form "governing". British English pronunciation generally exhibits non-rhoticity, meaning the 'r' sound is not pronounced after a vowel unless followed by another vowel.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, which prioritize maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and respecting vowel sounds, the division is as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
  • Root: self- (Old English, meaning "one's own person") - Pronominal root indicating reflexive action.
  • Root: govern- (Old French, from Latin gubernare meaning "to steer, rule") - Core meaning of control or direction.
  • Suffix: -ing (Old English, gerundive/present participle) - Indicates ongoing action.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable, "gov-". This is typical for words ending in "-ing" where the base verb receives the primary stress.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɒnˈselfˈɡʌvənɪŋ/

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: The 'n' is part of the prefix.
  • self-: /ˈself/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
  • gov-: /ˈɡʌv/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and ending the syllable. Primary stress.
  • er-: /ˈə/ - Open syllable. Schwa sound. Rule: Vowel sound.
  • ning: /ˈnɪŋ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and ending the syllable.

7. Edge Case Review:

The compound "self-" can sometimes be considered a bound morpheme, influencing stress patterns. However, in this case, it functions as a distinct syllable. The "-ing" suffix is a common source of syllabification complexity, but its consistent application in English simplifies the process here.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Nonself-governing" primarily functions as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Not subject to self-rule or independent governance.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: autonomous, independent, self-ruling
  • Antonyms: dependent, controlled, governed
  • Examples: "The territory remained a nonself-governing region for many years."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents standard GB English, some regional variations might exist in vowel quality (e.g., a more open 'ɒ' sound). These variations would not significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • understanding: un-der-stand-ing - Similar structure with prefixes and suffixes. Stress on "stand".
  • unbelievable: un-be-liev-a-ble - Similar prefix "un-". Stress on "liev".
  • overlooking: o-ver-look-ing - Similar suffix "-ing". Stress on "look".

The syllable division in "nonself-governing" follows the same principles of maximizing onsets and respecting vowel sounds as these similar words. The primary difference lies in the compound "self-" and the length of the root word "governing", which influences the number of syllables.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.