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Hyphenation ofself-conceitedness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-con-ceit-ed-ness

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

/ˌselfkənˈsiːtɪdnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

01100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('ceit'). Secondary stress falls on the first syllable ('self').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Open syllable, initial syllable, lightly stressed.

con/kən/

Open syllable, contains a schwa sound.

ceit/siːt/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

ed/ɪd/

Closed syllable, part of the adjective 'conceited'

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, nominalizing suffix.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
conceit(root)
+
ed(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: conceit

Old French 'concevoir', originally meaning 'concept', evolving to 'vanity'.

Suffix: ed

Old English, functions as part of the adjective 'conceited'.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of being excessively proud of oneself; arrogance.

Examples:

"His self-conceitedness was off-putting to everyone he met."

"The politician's self-conceitedness blinded him to the needs of his constituents."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix and a similar syllabic structure.

selfishnessself-ish-ness

Shares the 'self-' prefix and '-ness' suffix, demonstrating consistent syllabification of these morphemes.

conceivablecon-ceiv-a-ble

Shares the root 'conceit', but differs in suffixation and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each syllable contains a vowel sound.

Onset Rule

Syllables begin with consonant clusters where permissible.

Prefix/Suffix Rule

Prefixes and suffixes generally form separate syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The 'self-' prefix is often pronounced as a single syllable despite its four letters.

The 'ed' suffix is treated as a separate syllable due to its morphological function.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-conceitedness' is divided into five syllables: self-con-ceit-ed-ness. It consists of the prefix 'self-', the root 'conceit', and the suffixes '-ed' and '-ness'. Primary stress falls on 'ceit', and secondary stress on 'self'. The syllabification follows standard English rules, considering vowel sounds, consonant clusters, and morphemic boundaries.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "self-conceitedness" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:

The word "self-conceitedness" is a complex noun formed through affixation. Its pronunciation in GB English is approximately /ˌselfkənˈsiːtɪdnəs/. The word presents challenges due to the prefix "self-", the compound structure "conceited", and the suffix "-ness".

2. Syllable Division:

Following GB English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows (using only original letters):

self-con-ceit-ed-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the action is performed by the subject.
  • Root: conceit (Old French concevoir - to conceive) - originally meaning 'concept' or 'opinion', evolving to 'vanity' or 'excessive pride'.
  • Suffix: -ed (Old English) - past tense/participle marker, but here functions as part of the adjective conceited.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English) - nominalizing suffix, forming a noun from an adjective.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: con-CEIT-ed-ness. Secondary stress is present on the first syllable: SELF-con-CEIT-ed-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌselfkənˈsiːtɪdnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The combination of "conceit" and "-ed" can sometimes lead to ambiguity in syllabification. However, the pronunciation clearly separates them. The "self-" prefix is often treated as a single syllable, even though it's composed of four letters.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-conceitedness" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if the word were to hypothetically function as another part of speech, as it is inherently a noun.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of being excessively proud of oneself; arrogance.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: arrogance, vanity, hubris, egotism, self-importance
  • Antonyms: humility, modesty, selflessness
  • Examples: "His self-conceitedness was off-putting to everyone he met." "The politician's self-conceitedness blinded him to the needs of his constituents."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar suffix "-ness", stress on the second syllable.
  • selfishness: self-ish-ness - Shares the "self-" prefix and "-ness" suffix, stress on the second syllable.
  • conceivable: con-ceiv-a-ble - Shares the root "conceit", but different suffix and stress pattern.

The syllable division in "self-conceitedness" is more complex due to the compound root and the length of the word. The other words demonstrate simpler structures with more predictable stress patterns. The presence of the "ed" suffix in "conceitedness" creates a slightly different syllabic structure than "conceivable".

10. Division Rules:

  • Onset Rule: Syllables begin with consonant clusters where permissible (e.g., "con-").
  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are split according to sonority hierarchy, but maintained within a syllable if possible.
  • Prefix/Suffix Rule: Prefixes and suffixes generally form separate syllables.

11. Special Considerations:

The "self-" prefix is often pronounced as a single syllable, even though it contains multiple letters. This is a common phonetic reduction. The "ed" suffix, while often pronounced /d/, /t/, or /ɪd/, is treated as a separate syllable here due to its morphological function.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents standard GB English, some regional variations might exist in the pronunciation of vowels or the strength of the secondary stress. However, these variations would not significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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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.