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Hyphenation ofself-concentered

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-con-cen-tered

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

/selfˈkɒnsənˌtɛəd/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0101

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('cen'). This is typical for words with the '-ed' suffix.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/sɛlf/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

con/kɒn/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

cen/sən/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

tered/tɛəd/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Non-rhotic 'r' in GB English.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
con-center(root)
+
-ed(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: con-center

Latin origin (com- + centrum), meaning 'with center'.

Suffix: -ed

Old English, past tense/past participle marker.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Excessively preoccupied with oneself; self-absorbed to an extreme degree.

Examples:

"His self-concentered behavior alienated his friends."

"She was a self-concentered individual, rarely showing interest in others."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

concentratecon-cen-trate

Shares the 'con-cen-' syllable structure, demonstrating a similar morphological pattern.

self-controlself-con-trol

Shares the 'self-' prefix and a similar syllable structure.

centeredcen-tered

Demonstrates the core syllable structure of 'concentered' without the prefix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are typically divided after vowels, creating open or closed syllables.

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

The compound nature of 'concentered' could potentially lead to alternative syllabifications, but the established pronunciation dictates the current division.

Non-rhoticity in GB English affects the pronunciation of the 'r' in the final syllable.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-concentered' is divided into four syllables: self-con-cen-tered. The primary stress falls on 'cen'. It's morphologically composed of the prefix 'self-', the root 'con-center', and the suffix '-ed'. Syllable division follows vowel-consonant rules and maximizes onsets.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "self-concentered" presents challenges due to the prefix "self-", the compound structure, and the relatively uncommon vowel sequence. British English pronunciation generally exhibits non-rhoticity, meaning the 'r' sound is not pronounced after vowels unless followed by another vowel.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, which prioritize maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and respecting vowel sounds, the division will be as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: "self-" (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the subject is also the object of the action.
  • Root: "con-" (Latin com- meaning "with, together") + "center" (Latin centrum meaning "center") - The root signifies being at the middle or core.
  • Suffix: "-ed" (Old English) - past tense/past participle marker.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: con-cen-tered. This is typical for words with the "-ed" suffix, where stress often recedes from the final syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/selfˈkɒnsənˌtɛəd/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, including IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

  • self: /sɛlf/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: The 'l' can sometimes form a syllabic consonant, but in this case, it's part of the syllable's coda.
  • con: /kɒn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
  • cen: /sən/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
  • tered: /tɛəd/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). The 'r' is not pronounced in GB English unless followed by a vowel.

7. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of "concentered" could lead to some ambiguity. However, the established pronunciation and common usage dictate the above syllabification.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Self-concentered" primarily functions as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Excessively preoccupied with oneself; self-absorbed to an extreme degree.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: egocentric, self-absorbed, narcissistic, introverted.
  • Antonyms: altruistic, selfless, considerate, empathetic.
  • Examples: "His self-concentered behavior alienated his friends." "She was a self-concentered individual, rarely showing interest in others."

10. Regional Variations:

While the core syllabification remains consistent, some regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /ɒ/ vs. /ɔː/) might occur, but these do not affect the syllable division itself.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • concentrate: con-cen-trate - Similar structure, stress on the second syllable. The addition of "-ate" alters the final syllable.
  • self-control: self-con-trol - Similar prefix, different root. Stress on "con".
  • centered: cen-tered - A shorter form, demonstrating the core syllable structure of "concentered".
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

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