Hyphenation ofplain-spokenness
Syllable Division:
plain-spo-ken-ness
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/pleɪn ˈspoʊkən.nəs/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
0100
Primary stress falls on the second syllable ('spo'). The first, third, and fourth syllables are unstressed.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonants.
Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonants.
Closed syllable, consonant-vowel-consonant structure.
Closed syllable, consonant-vowel-consonant structure.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: plain
Old English origin, meaning 'flat, smooth, evident'. Adjectival modifier.
Root: spoke
Past tense of 'speak', Old English origin. Verbal root.
Suffix: en
Old English origin, forming past participles and adjectives.
The quality of being direct and honest in speech, even if it is considered impolite or tactless.
Examples:
"Her plain-spokenness often offended people, but she valued honesty above all else."
"He admired her plain-spokenness and refusal to sugarcoat the truth."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar structure with a root and -ness suffix, and stress on the second syllable.
Shares the -ness suffix and a similar stress pattern.
Similar to 'plain-spokenness' in having a past participle root (-ken) and the -ness suffix.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel-Consonant (VC)
Syllables typically end in a vowel sound.
Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC)
Syllables can end in a consonant if it's followed by a vowel in the next syllable.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The 'r' in 'spoken' is not pronounced in GB English, affecting syllable length.
Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is common.
Summary:
The word 'plain-spokenness' is divided into four syllables: plain-spo-ken-ness. The primary stress falls on 'spo'. It's a noun formed from the adjective 'plain-spoken' with the addition of the suffix '-ness'. The syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel and consonant sequences.
Detailed Analysis:
Analysis of "plain-spokenness" (English (GB))
1. Pronunciation:
The word "plain-spokenness" is pronounced in GB English as approximately /pleɪn ˈspoʊkən.nəs/. The 'r' is generally not pronounced after vowels unless followed by another vowel (non-rhotic accent).
2. Syllable Division:
The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: plain-spo-ken-ness
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: plain- (Old English plēn, meaning 'flat, smooth, evident'). Adjectival modifier.
- Root: spoke (Past tense of speak - Old English sprecan, meaning 'to utter words'). Verbal root.
- Suffix: -en (Old English -en, forming past participles and adjectives). Adjectival suffix.
- Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes, forming nouns denoting a state or quality). Noun-forming suffix.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the second syllable: spo-ken.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/pleɪn ˈspoʊkən.nəs/
6. Edge Case Review:
The combination of '-ken' and '-ness' can sometimes lead to ambiguity in syllable division, but the pronunciation clearly separates them. The 'n' in 'spoken' is often syllabified with the following vowel, creating a three-syllable unit.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Plain-spokenness" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if the word were to function as a different part of speech, as it is a derived noun.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The quality of being direct and honest in speech, even if it is considered impolite or tactless.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: frankness, candor, directness, honesty, bluntness
- Antonyms: diplomacy, tact, evasiveness, dishonesty
- Examples: "Her plain-spokenness often offended people, but she valued honesty above all else." "He admired her plain-spokenness and refusal to sugarcoat the truth."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- happiness: hap-pi-ness. Similar structure with a root and -ness suffix. Stress on the second syllable.
- kindness: kind-ness. Simpler structure, but shares the -ness suffix and similar stress pattern.
- brokenness: bro-ken-ness. Similar to "plain-spokenness" in having a past participle root (-ken) and the -ness suffix. Stress on the second syllable.
Syllable Breakdown Details:
- plain: /pleɪn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel + Consonant(s). No exceptions.
- spo: /spoʊ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel + Consonant(s). Potential exception: The 'o' sound can be diphthongized.
- ken: /kən/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant + Vowel + Consonant. No exceptions.
- ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant + Vowel + Consonant. No exceptions.
Exceptions/Special Cases:
The 'r' in 'spoken' is not pronounced in GB English, which affects the perceived length of the syllable. The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is also a common feature.
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables typically end in a vowel sound.
- Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC): Syllables can end in a consonant if it's followed by a vowel in the next syllable.
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