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Hyphenation ofresigned-looking

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

re-signed-look-ing

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

/rɪˈsaɪnd ˈlʊkɪŋ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0101

Primary stress falls on the third syllable, 'signed'. Secondary stress on 'look'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

re/riː/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

signed/ˈsaɪnd/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster, primary stress.

look/lʊk/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ing/ɪŋ/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant cluster.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

re-(prefix)
+
sign(root)
+
-ed(suffix)

Prefix: re-

Latin origin, meaning 'again' or 'back', reverses or intensifies meaning.

Root: sign

Latin origin (*signare*), meaning 'to mark, indicate', core meaning.

Suffix: -ed

Anglo-Saxon origin, past tense marker.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Appearing to have accepted something unpleasant or inevitable.

Examples:

"He had a resigned-looking expression on his face."

"She gave a resigned-looking sigh."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

decided-lookingde-cid-ed-look-ing

Similar compound adjective structure, stress pattern.

determined-lookingde-ter-mined-look-ing

Similar compound adjective structure, stress pattern.

disappointed-lookingdis-a-point-ed-look-ing

Similar compound adjective structure, stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant (VC)

Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.

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

Hyphenated compound word requires treating components separately initially.

Regional variations in /r/ and /g/ pronunciation may occur.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'resigned-looking' is divided into four syllables: re-signed-look-ing. The primary stress falls on 'signed'. It's a compound adjective formed from the past tense of 'resign' and the present participle 'looking'. Syllable division follows standard English rules prioritizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "resigned-looking" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "resigned-looking" presents a challenge due to the hyphenated compound structure. British English pronunciation generally exhibits a non-rhotic accent, meaning 'r' is not pronounced after vowels unless followed by another vowel. The 'g' in 'looking' is typically pronounced as a velar fricative /ɣ/ or dropped entirely in some regional accents.

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 division will be as follows.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: re- (Latin, meaning "again" or "back"). Morphological function: Reverses or intensifies the meaning of the root.
  • Root: sign (Latin signare, meaning "to mark, indicate"). Morphological function: Core meaning related to giving up or indicating acceptance.
  • Suffix: -ed (Anglo-Saxon, past tense marker). Morphological function: Indicates past tense.
  • Suffix: -looking (Anglo-Saxon, present participle forming adjective). Morphological function: Creates an adjective describing appearance or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable, "signed". Secondary stress is on "look".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/rɪˈsaɪnd ˈlʊkɪŋ/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • re-: /riː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound followed by a consonant. Exception: The 'r' is often reduced to a schwa in rapid speech.
  • signed: /ˈsaɪnd/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel sound followed by a consonant cluster. Stress falls here.
  • look: /lʊk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel sound followed by a consonant.
  • ing: /ɪŋ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel sound followed by nasal consonant cluster.

7. Edge Case Review:

The hyphenated structure requires careful consideration. Treating "resigned" and "looking" as separate units initially simplifies the analysis. The compound word follows typical English compounding rules.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Resigned-looking" functions as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Appearing to have accepted something unpleasant or inevitable.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: defeated, dejected, hopeless, passive, submissive
  • Antonyms: optimistic, hopeful, cheerful, energetic
  • Examples: "He had a resigned-looking expression on his face." "She gave a resigned-looking sigh."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in the pronunciation of /r/ and /g/ exist. Some speakers may pronounce the 'r' in "resigned" more strongly, while others may drop the 'g' in "looking" entirely. These variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • "decided-looking": de-ˈsaɪdɪd ˈlʊkɪŋ - Similar syllable structure, stress on the second element of the first word.
  • "determined-looking": dɪˈtɜːrmɪnd ˈlʊkɪŋ - Similar syllable structure, stress on the second element of the first word.
  • "disappointed-looking": dɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd ˈlʊkɪŋ - Similar syllable structure, stress on the second element of the first word.

These comparisons demonstrate a consistent pattern of stress placement on the root of the first word in these compound adjectives.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

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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.