Hyphenation ofself-centredness
Syllable Division:
self-cen-tred-ness
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/selfˈsentəd.nəs/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
0100
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('cen'), indicated by '1'. The other syllables are unstressed ('0').
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, initial syllable.
Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.
Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.
Closed syllable, final syllable with schwa.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: self
Old English reflexive pronoun, functioning as a prefix.
Root: centre
Latin *centrum*, Greek *kentron*; core meaning of focus.
Suffix: -edness
Combination of adjectival suffix '-ed' and nominalizing suffix '-ness'.
The quality of being excessively preoccupied with oneself; egotism.
Examples:
"His self-centredness made it difficult to maintain a relationship with him."
"The politician's self-centredness was evident in his disregard for the needs of his constituents."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Shares the '-ness' suffix and a similar syllable structure.
Shares the '-ness' suffix, demonstrating a common pattern.
More complex structure, but includes the '-ness' suffix and demonstrates how suffixes affect syllable division.
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.
Consonant Cluster (CC)
Syllables are divided before consonant clusters.
Open/Closed Syllable
Syllables are categorized as open (ending in a vowel) or closed (ending in a consonant), influencing pronunciation and stress.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The hyphen in 'self-centred' is a morphological marker and doesn't affect syllable division.
Non-rhoticity of RP English influences the pronunciation of the 'r' in 'centred'.
Potential regional variations in 'r' pronunciation could affect phonetic realization but not syllable division.
Summary:
The word 'self-centredness' is divided into four syllables: self-cen-tred-ness. It consists of the prefix 'self-', the root 'centre', and the suffix '-edness'. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('cen'). The syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and consonant clusters.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "self-centredness" (English (GB))
1. Pronunciation Considerations:
The word "self-centredness" is pronounced with a relatively standard Received Pronunciation (RP) accent in British English. The 'r' is generally non-rhotic, meaning it's not pronounced unless followed by a vowel. The vowel sounds are relatively straightforward, though the 'e' in 'centred' is a schwa /ə/.
2. Syllable Division:
Following English syllable division rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): self-cen-tred-ness
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the subject is also the object of the action.
- Root: centre (Latin centrum, from Greek kentron) - the core meaning relating to a point of focus or importance.
- Suffix: -ed (Old English) - past tense/participle marker, here functioning adjectivally.
- Suffix: -ness (Old English) - nominalizing suffix, forming a noun denoting a state or quality.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the third syllable: cen-tred.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/selfˈsentəd.nəs/
6. Edge Case Review:
The compound nature of "self-centred" can sometimes lead to variations in perceived syllable boundaries, but the standard division is maintained. The 'r' in 'centred' is not pronounced in RP, which affects the syllable weight.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Self-centredness" functions solely as a noun. There are no syllable or stress shifts 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 excessively preoccupied with oneself; egotism.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: egotism, selfishness, narcissism, conceit
- Antonyms: altruism, selflessness, humility
- Examples: "His self-centredness made it difficult to maintain a relationship with him." "The politician's self-centredness was evident in his disregard for the needs of his constituents."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar structure with a suffix. Stress on the second syllable.
- kindness: kind-ness - Simpler structure, but shares the '-ness' suffix. Stress on the first syllable.
- thoughtfulness: thought-ful-ness - More complex, with an adjective-forming suffix before '-ness'. Stress on the first syllable.
The differences in stress placement are due to the varying number of syllables and the weight of each syllable. "Self-centredness" has a longer base form ("self-centred") which influences the stress pattern.
10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:
- self: /self/ - Open syllable, containing a vowel followed by consonant(s). Rule: V-C-C. No exceptions.
- cen: /sen/ - Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Rule: V-C. No exceptions.
- tred: /tred/ - Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster. Rule: V-CC. No exceptions.
- ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable, vowel preceded by consonant. Rule: C-V-C. No exceptions.
11. Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.
- Consonant Cluster (CC): Syllables are divided before consonant clusters.
- Open Syllable: Syllables ending in a vowel sound are considered open.
- Closed Syllable: Syllables ending in a consonant sound are considered closed.
12. Special Considerations:
The hyphen in "self-centred" doesn't affect the syllable division, it's a morphological marker indicating a compound adjective. The non-rhoticity of RP English influences the pronunciation of the 'r' in 'centred'.
13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
In some regional accents (e.g., General American), the 'r' in 'centred' would be pronounced, potentially affecting the perceived syllable weight and potentially leading to a slightly different phonetic realization. However, the syllable division would remain the same.
The hottest word splits in English (GB)
See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.
What is hyphenation
Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.
This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.
With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.