Hyphenation ofself-conceitedness

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.