Hyphenation ofself-insignificance
Syllable Division:
self-in-sig-ni-fi-can-ce
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/selfˌɪnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
0000100
Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('ni' in 'significance').
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, initial syllable.
Closed syllable, onset consonant cluster.
Closed syllable, onset consonant cluster.
Open syllable, vowel onset.
Open syllable, vowel onset.
Closed syllable, onset consonant cluster.
Closed syllable, onset consonant cluster.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: self
Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.
Root: sign
Latin *signum* meaning 'mark, sign'.
Suffix: insignificance
Latin origin, complex suffix built from *in-* (not), *sign-* (mark), *-fic-* (making), and *-ance* (abstract noun).
The state or quality of being unimportant or lacking in significance, especially in relation to oneself.
Examples:
"His feelings of self-insignificance were overwhelming."
"She struggled with a deep sense of self-insignificance after the loss."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar structure with multiple suffixes.
Similar prefix and suffix structure.
Similar suffix structure.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Maximize Onsets
Prioritize placing consonants at the beginning of syllables.
Avoid Stranded Consonants
Avoid leaving single consonants at the end of a syllable unless necessary.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The compound nature of the word and the multiple suffixes require careful consideration.
The division aims to reflect natural pronunciation patterns in GB English.
Summary:
The word 'self-insignificance' is divided into seven syllables: self-in-sig-ni-fi-can-ce. The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable. It's a noun formed from the prefix 'self-', the root 'sign-', and the suffix 'insignificance', with origins in Old English and Latin. Syllable division follows rules maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "self-insignificance" (English (GB))
1. Pronunciation Considerations:
The word "self-insignificance" presents challenges due to its length, compound structure, and the presence of multiple morphemes. 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, which prioritize maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and avoiding stranded consonants, the division will be as follows (using only original letters):
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the subject is also the object of the action.
- Root: sign- (Latin signum meaning 'mark, sign') - denoting meaning or importance.
- Suffix: -in- (Latin in- meaning 'not') - negative prefix.
- Suffix: -significance (Latin significantia) - denoting the quality of being significant. This is a complex suffix built from sign- and -fic (making, causing) and -ance (forming abstract nouns).
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: in-sig-ni-fi-cance.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/selfˌɪnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns/
6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:
| Syllable | IPA Transcription | Rule Explanation | Potential Exceptions |
|---|---|---|---|
| self | /self/ | Onset maximization. 's' initiates the syllable. | None |
| in | /ɪn/ | Onset maximization. 'in' forms a closed syllable. | None |
| sig | /sɪɡ/ | Consonant cluster 'sg' is permissible as an onset. Closed syllable. | None |
| ni | /nɪ/ | Vowel onset. | None |
| fi | /fɪ/ | Vowel onset. | None |
| can | /kəns/ | Consonant cluster 'cans' is permissible as an onset. Closed syllable. | None |
| ce | /səns/ | Consonant cluster 'cens' is permissible as an onset. Closed syllable. | None |
7. Edge Case Review:
The compound nature of the word and the multiple suffixes require careful consideration. The division aims to reflect natural pronunciation patterns.
8. Grammatical Role:
"Self-insignificance" primarily functions as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function.
9. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The state or quality of being unimportant or lacking in significance, especially in relation to oneself.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: unimportance, triviality, inconsequentiality, obscurity
- Antonyms: significance, importance, prominence, relevance
- Examples: "His feelings of self-insignificance were overwhelming." "She struggled with a deep sense of self-insignificance after the loss."
10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
While the provided transcription represents standard GB English, slight variations in vowel quality or stress intensity may occur regionally. However, the core syllable division remains consistent.
11. Phonological Comparison:
- Impossibility: im-pos-si-bil-i-ty (5 syllables) - Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress pattern differs.
- Unpredictability: un-pre-dict-a-bil-i-ty (6 syllables) - Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress pattern differs.
- Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty (6 syllables) - Similar suffix structure. Stress pattern differs.
The differences in syllable count and stress placement are due to the varying lengths of the root words and the specific vowel/consonant combinations within each word. The core principle of maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants applies consistently across these examples.
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