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Hyphenation ofself-condemnation

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-con-dem-na-tion

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

/self kənˌdemˈneɪʃən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('dem'). The stress pattern is typical for words ending in '-ation'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

con/kɒn/

Closed syllable.

dem/dem/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

na/neɪ/

Open syllable.

tion/ʃən/

Closed syllable, final syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
condemn(root)
+
ation(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: condemn

Latin *condemnare*, meaning 'to sentence'.

Suffix: ation

Latin, nominalizing suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The act of criticizing or punishing oneself severely.

Examples:

"His constant self-condemnation was exhausting to witness."

"She struggled with feelings of self-condemnation after the mistake."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

informationin-for-ma-tion

Similar root + suffix structure, differing stress placement.

examinationex-am-i-na-tion

Similar root + suffix structure, differing stress placement.

determinationde-ter-mi-na-tion

Similar root + suffix structure, differing stress placement.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are typically divided after a vowel followed by a consonant (e.g., 'con', 'dem').

Open Syllable Rule

Syllables ending in a vowel are considered open syllables (e.g., 'self', 'na').

Special Considerations

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

Vowel reduction in 'self' is a common phonetic feature but doesn't affect syllabification.

The prefix 'self-' doesn't introduce any unusual syllabification challenges.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-condemnation' is divided into five syllables: self-con-dem-na-tion. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('dem'). The word is morphologically composed of the prefix 'self-', the root 'condemn', and the suffix '-ation'. Syllable division follows standard English vowel-consonant and open syllable rules.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "self-condemnation" is pronounced with a relatively standard Received Pronunciation (RP) accent in British English. Key features include the reduced vowel in the first syllable ("self") and the stress on the third syllable ("dem").

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

self-con-dem-na-tion

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix, indicating the action is performed by the subject upon itself.
  • Root: condemn (Latin condemnare – ‘to sentence’) - the core meaning of declaring someone guilty.
  • Suffix: -ation (Latin) - nominalizing suffix, transforming the verb "condemn" into a noun.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: con-dem-na-tion. This is typical for words with the "-ation" suffix.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/self kənˌdemˈneɪʃən/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • self: /self/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No special cases.
  • con: /kɒn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and a syllable boundary. No special cases.
  • dem: /dem/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and a syllable boundary. This syllable receives primary stress.
  • na: /neɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No special cases.
  • tion: /ʃən/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and a syllable boundary. This syllable is often unstressed in English.

7. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of the word (prefix + root + suffix) doesn't present significant edge cases for syllabification. The vowel reduction in "self" is a common phonetic phenomenon but doesn't affect the syllable division.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Self-condemnation" primarily functions as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context, as it's a fixed form.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The act of criticizing or punishing oneself severely.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: self-reproach, self-criticism, self-punishment
  • Antonyms: self-acceptance, self-forgiveness
  • Examples:
    • "His constant self-condemnation was exhausting to witness."
    • "She struggled with feelings of self-condemnation after the mistake."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While RP is the standard, some regional variations might exhibit slight vowel differences (e.g., a broader 'a' in "nation"). These variations wouldn't fundamentally alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • Information: in-for-ma-tion - Similar structure (root + suffix). Stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • Examination: ex-am-i-na-tion - Similar structure (root + suffix). Stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
  • Determination: de-ter-mi-na-tion - Similar structure (root + suffix). Stress on the antepenultimate syllable.

The consistent stress pattern in these words with the "-ation" suffix highlights the rule-governed nature of English stress assignment. "Self-condemnation" differs in having a prefix, which shifts the stress further to the right.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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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.