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Hyphenation ofself-devotedness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-de-vot-ed-ness

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

/self dɪˈvoʊtɪdnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('vot'), indicated by '1'. The other syllables are unstressed ('0').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonants.

de/dɪ/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

vot/voʊt/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ed/tɪd/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

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

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: devote

Latin *devovere* - to consecrate, dedicate; verb.

Suffix: ed

Old English, past tense/past participle marker.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of being dedicated or committed to something or someone, especially oneself.

Examples:

"Her self-devotedness to the charity was truly inspiring."

"His self-devotedness led him to neglect his own needs."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Similar structure with the '-ness' suffix and comparable stress pattern.

kindnesskind-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix and a similar stress pattern, though simpler in structure.

thoughtfulnessthought-ful-ness

More complex, but demonstrates consistent application of syllabification rules for suffixes.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant (VC) Syllable Division

Syllables are typically divided after a vowel when followed by one or more consonants.

Open Syllable

Syllables ending in a vowel sound are considered open syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The '-ed' suffix is typically a separate syllable, but in this case, it's tightly bound to 'devot' and functions as a past participle, creating a single syllable.

Subtle regional variations in vowel pronunciation may occur, but do not significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-devotedness' is divided into five syllables: self-de-vot-ed-ness. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('vot'). It's a noun formed from the prefix 'self-', the root 'devote', and the suffixes '-ed' and '-ness'. Syllabification follows standard English (GB) rules based on vowel-consonant patterns.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:

The word "self-devotedness" is a complex noun formed through compounding and suffixation. Its pronunciation in GB English is approximately /self dɪˈvoʊtɪdnəs/. The word presents challenges due to the blend of morphemes and potential for varying stress patterns.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-de-vot-ed-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the action is performed by the subject.
  • Root: devote (Latin devovere - to consecrate, dedicate) - verb meaning to dedicate or give up time/resources to a cause or person.
  • Suffix: -ed (Old English) - past tense/past participle marker.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English) - noun-forming suffix denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /dɪˈvoʊtɪdnəs/. This is typical for words with the suffix "-ness" attached to a verb-derived stem.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/self dɪˈvoʊtɪdnəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • self: /self/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No special cases.
  • de: /dɪ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and a syllable boundary. Potential exception: short vowel sound.
  • vot: /voʊt/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and a syllable boundary.
  • ed: /tɪd/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and a syllable boundary. The 'e' is schwa and the 'd' is voiced due to the preceding voiced vowel.
  • ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and a syllable boundary.

7. Edge Case Review:

The "-ed" suffix can sometimes form a separate syllable (e.g., "wanted" /wɒn.tɪd/), but in this case, it's tightly bound to "devot" and functions as a past participle, creating a single syllable.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Self-devotedness" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of being dedicated or committed to something or someone, especially oneself.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: dedication, commitment, devotion, selflessness
  • Antonyms: selfishness, apathy, indifference
  • Examples: "Her self-devotedness to the charity was truly inspiring." "His self-devotedness led him to neglect his own needs."

10. Regional Variations:

While the core syllabification remains consistent across GB English dialects, subtle variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., the /ə/ in "self") might occur. These variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar structure with a suffix "-ness". Stress pattern is also comparable.
  • kindness: kind-ness - Simpler structure, but shares the "-ness" suffix and similar stress pattern.
  • thoughtfulness: thought-ful-ness - More complex, with an adjective-forming suffix "-ful" before "-ness", but demonstrates the consistent application of syllabification rules for suffixes.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

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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.