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Hyphenation ofself-forgetfulness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-for-get-ful-ness

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

/self fɔːrˈɡetfʊlnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

01000

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('get'). Secondary stress 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, vowel followed by consonants.

for/fɔːr/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonants.

get/ɡet/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonants.

ful/fʊl/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonants.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonants.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
forget(root)
+
ful-ness(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: forget

Old English, to be unable to recall information.

Suffix: ful-ness

Old English, adjectival and noun-forming suffixes respectively.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state of being unaware of oneself or one's own actions and feelings; a lack of self-consciousness.

Examples:

"His self-forgetfulness was endearing, but sometimes led to awkward situations."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

forgetfulnessfor-get-ful-ness

Shares the 'forget-ful-ness' morphemic structure and stress pattern.

thoughtfulnessthought-ful-ness

Similar suffix structure and stress pattern.

carefulnesscare-ful-ness

Similar suffix structure and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Nucleus

Each syllable contains a vowel sound, which forms the nucleus.

Onset and Coda

Consonants preceding the vowel form the onset, and those following form the coda.

Special Considerations

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

Potential for analyzing 'forgetful' as a single syllable, but morphemic boundaries were prioritized.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation may occur, but do not affect syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-forgetfulness' is divided into five syllables: self-for-get-ful-ness. The primary stress falls on 'get'. It's a noun formed from the prefix 'self-', the root 'forget', and the suffixes '-ful' and '-ness'. Syllabification follows the principle of maximizing vowel-consonant combinations, creating open and closed syllables.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:

The word "self-forgetfulness" is a complex noun in British English. It consists of multiple morphemes and presents challenges in syllabification due to the presence of consonant clusters and vowel combinations. The pronunciation is generally /ˈself fɔːrˌɡetfʊlnəs/.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-for-get-ful-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the action is performed by the subject.
  • Root: forget (Old English) - to be unable to recall information.
  • Suffix: -ful (Old English) - adjectival suffix meaning "full of".
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English) - noun-forming suffix denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: for-GET-ful-ness. Secondary stress is present on the first syllable: SELF-for-get-ful-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/self fɔːrˈɡetfʊlnəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • self: /self/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No special cases.
  • for: /fɔːr/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No special cases.
  • get: /ɡet/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No special cases.
  • ful: /fʊl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No special cases.
  • ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No special cases.

7. Edge Case Review:

The "forgetful" sequence could potentially be analyzed as a single syllable due to the common co-occurrence of these morphemes. However, maintaining the morphemic boundaries and adhering to the principle of maximizing syllable onsets and codas leads to the chosen division.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Self-forgetfulness" primarily functions as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function, as it doesn't inflect.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state of being unaware of oneself or one's own actions and feelings; a lack of self-consciousness.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: absent-mindedness, obliviousness, unawareness, self-absorption.
  • Antonyms: self-awareness, consciousness, mindfulness.
  • Examples: "His self-forgetfulness was endearing, but sometimes led to awkward situations."

10. Alternative Pronunciations & Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /ɔː/ vs. /ɒ/ in "for") might occur, but these do not significantly alter the syllabification. Some speakers might reduce the vowel in "fulness" to a schwa /fʊlnəs/, but the syllable structure remains the same.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • forgetfulness: for-get-ful-ness - Similar structure, stress on "get".
  • thoughtfulness: thought-ful-ness - Similar structure, stress on "thought".
  • carefulness: care-ful-ness - Similar structure, stress on "care".

The consistency in these words demonstrates the regular application of English syllabification rules, where each vowel nucleus forms the core of a syllable, followed by any subsequent consonants. The placement of stress is determined by morphological structure and lexical prominence.

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.