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Hyphenation ofself-indignation

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-in-dig-na-tion

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

/ˌselfɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

01011

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('na'). 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, initial syllable.

in/ɪn/

Closed syllable.

dig/dɪɡ/

Closed syllable.

na/nə/

Open syllable.

tion/ʃən/

Closed syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self-(prefix)
+
indign-(root)
+
-ation(suffix)

Prefix: self-

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: indign-

Latin *indignus* - not worthy.

Suffix: -ation

Latin *-atio*, nominalizing suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A feeling of resentment or anger at being treated unfairly or with disrespect, directed towards oneself.

Examples:

"He was overcome with self-indignation after realizing his mistake."

"Her self-indignation was palpable as she recounted the story."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

determinationde-ter-mi-na-tion

Similar syllable structure with a prefix and suffix; stress pattern.

informationin-for-ma-tion

Similar suffix '-tion' and stress pattern.

considerationcon-sid-er-a-tion

Similar '-ation' suffix and four-syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime

Syllables are divided into an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a rime (vowel and any following consonants).

Vowel-Consonant (VC)

If a syllable contains a single vowel followed by a consonant, the syllable is divided after the vowel.

Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC)

Syllables with this structure are divided between the vowels.

Special Considerations

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

The prefix 'self-' is consistently treated as a separate syllable.

The 't' in '-tion' is often silent in pronunciation but remains in the orthography.

The compound nature of the word doesn't alter standard syllabification rules.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Self-indignation is a five-syllable noun (self-in-dig-na-tion) with primary stress on the fourth syllable. It's formed from the prefix 'self-', root 'indign-', and suffix '-ation'. Syllabification follows standard English rules.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:

The word "self-indignation" is a compound noun. Its pronunciation in GB English is approximately /ˌselfɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/. It presents challenges due to the prefix "self-", the compound structure, and the presence of multiple vowels.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-in-dig-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: indign- (Latin indignus - not worthy) - expressing a lack of respect or proper regard.
  • Suffix: -ation (Latin -atio) - nominalizing suffix, turning the verb "indignate" into a noun.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: in-dig-na-tion. Secondary stress is present on the first syllable: self-in-dig-na-tion.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌselfɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/

6. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of the word and the prefix "self-" require careful consideration. The "self-" prefix is often treated as a separate syllable, even though it's etymologically a single morpheme. The 'in' before 'dig' is a prefix, but it's tightly bound to the root and often functions as a single unit phonologically.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-indignation" primarily functions as a noun. While theoretically, one could attempt to use it adjectivally (e.g., "self-indignation feelings"), the syllabification and stress remain consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A feeling of resentment or anger at being treated unfairly or with disrespect, directed towards oneself.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: Self-reproach, self-disgust, resentment, mortification.
  • Antonyms: Self-satisfaction, contentment, pride.
  • Examples:
    • "He was overcome with self-indignation after realizing his mistake."
    • "Her self-indignation was palpable as she recounted the story."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "determination": de-ter-mi-na-tion. Similar syllable structure with a prefix and suffix. Stress falls on the fourth syllable, mirroring "self-indignation".
  • "information": in-for-ma-tion. Similar suffix "-tion" and stress pattern.
  • "consideration": con-sid-er-a-tion. Again, the "-ation" suffix and a similar four-syllable structure. The difference lies in the initial consonant clusters and the length of the root.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
self /self/ Open syllable, initial syllable. Onset-Rime division. The 'l' can sometimes be syllabified with the following vowel in rapid speech, but standard syllabification keeps it with the 'se'.
in /ɪn/ Closed syllable. Vowel-Consonant division.
dig /dɪɡ/ Closed syllable. Vowel-Consonant division.
na /nə/ Open syllable. Vowel-Consonant division.
tion /ʃən/ Closed syllable. Consonant-Vowel-Consonant division. The 't' is often silent in pronunciation, but remains in the orthography and syllabification.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Onset-Rime: Syllables are divided into an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a rime (vowel and any following consonants).
  2. Vowel-Consonant (VC): If a syllable contains a single vowel followed by a consonant, the syllable is divided after the vowel.
  3. Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC): Syllables with this structure are divided between the vowels.

Special Considerations:

  • The prefix "self-" is consistently treated as a separate syllable despite its single morphemic origin.
  • The 't' in '-tion' is orthographically present but often silent, which doesn't affect syllabification but impacts pronunciation.
  • The compound nature of the word doesn't alter the standard syllabification rules.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents standard GB English, some regional variations might exist in vowel quality or stress placement, but these variations are unlikely to significantly alter the syllable division.

Short Analysis:

"Self-indignation" is a compound noun divided into five syllables: self-in-dig-na-tion. The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable. It comprises the prefix "self-", the root "indign-", and the suffix "-ation". Syllabification follows standard English rules of onset-rime and vowel-consonant division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

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