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Hyphenation ofself-forgettingly

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-for-get-ting-ly

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

/self fərˈɡetɪŋli/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable, 'get'. The stress pattern is typical for words ending in '-ly' derived from adjectives.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

for/fɔːr/

Open syllable.

get/ɡet/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

ting/tɪŋ/

Closed syllable.

ly/li/

Open syllable, final syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
forget(root)
+
-ing(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: forget

Old English, verb meaning 'to be unable to recall'.

Suffix: -ing

Old English, present participle/gerund forming suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
adverb(grammatical role in sentences)

In a manner characterized by a lack of self-awareness or consideration for oneself.

Examples:

"He acted self-forgettingly, rushing into the burning building to save the child."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

quicklyquick-ly

Shares the '-ly' suffix and a similar adverbial function.

happilyhap-pi-ly

Shares the '-ly' suffix and a similar adverbial function.

carefullycare-ful-ly

Shares the '-ly' suffix and a similar adverbial function.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Nucleus Rule

Each syllable contains a vowel sound as its nucleus.

Maximize Onset Rule

Consonant clusters are broken to create the largest possible consonant onset for each syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The '-ing' suffix is treated as part of the present participle and does not form a separate syllable.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., schwa reduction) do not affect the core syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-forgettingly' is divided into five syllables: self-for-get-ting-ly. The primary stress falls on 'get'. It's formed from the prefix 'self-', the root 'forget', and the suffixes '-ing' and '-ly'. Syllable division follows the vowel nucleus and maximize onset rules.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "self-forgettingly" presents challenges due to its compound structure and multiple suffixes. British English pronunciation generally exhibits non-rhoticity (absence of /r/ after vowels), which will influence the phonetic transcription.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, we prioritize vowel sounds as syllable nuclei. Consonant clusters are generally broken according to the principle of maximizing onsets (consonants at the beginning of a syllable).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the subject is also the object of the action.
  • Root: forget (Old English) - to be unable to recall information.
  • Suffix: -ing (Old English) - present participle/gerund forming suffix.
  • Suffix: -ly (Old French) - adverbial suffix, converting an adjective into an adverb.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable, "get". This is typical for words ending in "-ly" derived from adjectives.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/self fərˈɡetɪŋli/

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). Primary stress. No special cases.
  • ting /tɪŋ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. No special cases.
  • ly /li/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. No special cases.

7. Edge Case Review:

The "-ing" suffix can sometimes create ambiguity, but in this case, it clearly functions as part of the present participle and is not a separate syllable.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Self-forgettingly" functions solely as an adverb. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context, as it is a fixed form.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: In a manner characterized by a lack of self-awareness or consideration for oneself.
  • Grammatical Category: Adverb
  • Synonyms: absentmindedly, unselfconsciously, heedlessly
  • Antonyms: deliberately, consciously, intentionally
  • Examples: "He acted self-forgettingly, rushing into the burning building to save the child."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "for" to a schwa /fə/, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllable division. Regional accents might influence vowel quality, but the core syllable structure remains consistent.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • quickly: quick-ly (similar -ly suffix, stress on the first syllable of the root)
  • happily: hap-pi-ly (similar -ly suffix, stress on the first syllable of the root)
  • carefully: care-ful-ly (similar -ly suffix, stress on the first syllable of the root)

The syllable division in "self-forgettingly" differs due to the compound structure (self-forgetting) before the addition of "-ly". The other words are simpler adjective + "-ly" constructions. The stress pattern is also unique, falling on the root syllable ("get") rather than the initial syllable as in the other examples.

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

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