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Hyphenation ofquasi-negligibly

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

qua-si-neg-li-gi-bly

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

/ˈkweɪzi ˈneɡlɪdʒɪbli/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

001000

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('neg'). The stress pattern is typical for adverbs derived from adjectives with this morphological structure.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

qua/kwɑː/

Open syllable, initial stress potential.

si/siː/

Open syllable, weak vowel sound.

neg/neɡ/

Closed syllable, stressed.

li/lɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

gi/dʒi/

Open syllable, unstressed.

bly/bli/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

quasi-(prefix)
+
neglig-(root)
+
-ibly(suffix)

Prefix: quasi-

Latin origin, meaning 'as if', 'somewhat'. Functions as an intensifier.

Root: neglig-

Latin origin (*negligere* - to neglect). Core meaning of inattention.

Suffix: -ibly

English suffix (from Latin *-ibilis*). Forms an adverb from an adjective.

Meanings & Definitions
adverb(grammatical role in sentences)

To a very slight or almost imperceptible degree; barely noticeably.

Examples:

"The difference in performance was quasi-negligibly small."

"The effect of the new policy was quasi-negligibly felt."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

impossiblyim-pos-si-bly

Similar prefix-root-suffix structure, adverbial function.

incrediblyin-cred-i-bly

Similar prefix-root-suffix structure, adverbial function.

unbelievablyun-be-liev-a-bly

Similar prefix-root-suffix structure, adverbial function.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime Principle

Syllables are formed around a vowel nucleus, with preceding consonants forming the onset and following consonants forming the rime.

Avoid Consonant Clusters

Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they are exceptionally difficult to pronounce.

Special Considerations

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

The 'gli' cluster is a common loanword sequence and doesn't pose a significant syllabification challenge.

Potential for slight vowel reduction in the first syllable (/kwəzi/) but doesn't alter the core syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'quasi-negligibly' is divided into six syllables: qua-si-neg-li-gi-bly. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('neg'). It's an adverb formed from a Latin root with English suffixes, meaning 'to a very slight degree'. Syllabification follows the onset-rime principle, avoiding unnecessary consonant cluster splits.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "quasi-negligibly" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "quasi-negligibly" presents challenges due to its length, multiple morphemes, and the presence of less common vowel sequences. The pronunciation in GB English will be relatively consistent, but subtle variations in vowel quality are possible.

2. Syllable Division:

Following GB English syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid splitting consonant clusters where possible, the division is as follows (detailed in the JSON output).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: quasi- (Latin, meaning "as if," "somewhat") - functions as an intensifier or modifier.
  • Root: neglig- (Latin negligere - to neglect) - the core meaning relating to inattention or lack of care.
  • Suffix: -ibly (English, derived from Latin -ibilis) - forms an adverb from the adjective negligible.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: neg-li-gi-bly.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈkweɪzi ˈneɡlɪdʒɪbli/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "si-" before a vowel can sometimes lead to a slight diphthongization, but in this case, it remains a clear /si/ sound. The "gli" cluster is relatively common in loanwords and doesn't present a significant syllabification issue.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Quasi-negligibly" functions exclusively as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. The stress pattern and syllabification remain consistent regardless of the specific grammatical context.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: To a very slight or almost imperceptible degree; barely noticeably.
  • Grammatical Category: Adverb
  • Synonyms: marginally, faintly, scarcely, nominally
  • Antonyms: significantly, substantially, markedly, considerably
  • Examples: "The difference in performance was quasi-negligibly small." "The effect of the new policy was quasi-negligibly felt."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Impossibly: im-pos-si-bly - Similar structure with a prefix and suffix. Stress on the second syllable.
  • Incredibly: in-cred-i-bly - Similar structure, stress on the second syllable.
  • Unbelievably: un-be-liev-a-bly - Similar structure, stress on the third syllable.

The key difference lies in the length and complexity of the root morpheme. "Negligibly" has a longer root than "incredible" or "believable," influencing the syllable count and stress placement.

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the first syllable to /kwəzi/, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllabification. Regional accents might affect vowel quality, but the core syllable structure remains consistent.

11. Division Rules Applied:

  • Onset-Rime Principle: Syllables are formed around a vowel nucleus, with preceding consonants forming the onset and following consonants forming the rime.
  • Avoid Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they are exceptionally difficult to pronounce.
  • Moraic Syllabification: While not strictly moraic, the principle of avoiding syllable-final consonant clusters influences the division.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/11/2025

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