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Hyphenation ofself-interrogation

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-in-ter-ro-ga-tion

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

/ˌselfɪnˌtɛrəˈɡeɪʃən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('ro-ga-tion'). The first and third syllables have secondary stress.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Open syllable, vowel sound at the end.

in/ɪn/

Closed syllable, ending in a nasal consonant.

ter/tɛr/

Closed syllable, CVC structure.

ro/rə/

Open syllable, vowel sound following a consonant.

ga/ɡə/

Open syllable, vowel sound following a consonant.

tion/ʃən/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster at the end.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
rog(root)
+
tion(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: rog

Latin *rogare* - to ask, core meaning of questioning.

Suffix: tion

Latin *-tio*, nominalizing suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The act of examining one's own thoughts and feelings; questioning oneself.

Examples:

"His period of self-interrogation led to a profound change in his outlook."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

informationin-for-ma-tion

Similar CVC structure in 'ma' and 'tion' syllables.

investigationin-ves-ti-ga-tion

Similar prefix 'in' and suffix 'tion'.

communicationcom-mu-ni-ca-tion

Similar suffix 'tion'.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Rule

Syllables generally end with a vowel sound.

CVC Rule

Consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) structure generally forms a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters following a vowel typically form the syllable onset of the following syllable, but common clusters can stand alone.

Special Considerations

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

The compound nature of the word could lead to alternative, though less common, syllabifications (e.g., 'inter' as a single syllable).

Subtle regional variations in vowel pronunciation may exist, but do not affect the core syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-interrogation' is divided into six syllables: self-in-ter-ro-ga-tion. The primary stress falls on 'ro-ga-tion'. It's a compound noun formed from a prefix, root, and suffixes, following standard GB English syllabification rules based on vowel sounds and consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:

The word "self-interrogation" is a compound noun, formed from multiple morphemes. In GB English, it is pronounced with relatively clear articulation of each syllable. The stress pattern is crucial for understanding its syllabification.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-in-ter-ro-ga-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: rog- (Latin rogare - to ask) - The core meaning relates to questioning.
  • Inter-: (Latin inter- - between, among) - Combining form indicating a reciprocal or interactive action.
  • Suffix: -tion (Latin -tio) - Nominalizing suffix, forming a noun from a verb.
  • Suffix: -ga- (Latin) - part of the root, connecting to the suffix.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: ro-ga-tion.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌselfɪnˌtɛrəˈɡeɪʃən/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • self /self/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables generally end with a vowel sound. No consonant clusters impede division.
  • in /ɪn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters following a vowel typically form the syllable onset of the following syllable, but 'in' is a common syllable on its own.
  • ter /tɛr/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) structure generally forms a syllable.
  • ro /rə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound followed by a consonant.
  • ga /ɡə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound preceded by a consonant.
  • tion /ʃən/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster 'tion' forms a syllable-final consonant cluster.

7. Edge Case Review & Exceptions:

The compound nature of the word presents a slight complexity. The 'in' syllable could potentially be attached to 'ter' as 'inter', but the common pronunciation and semantic clarity support the division as 'in-ter'.

8. Grammatical Role:

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

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The act of examining one's own thoughts and feelings; questioning oneself.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: introspection, self-examination, self-analysis
  • Antonyms: externalization, objectivity
  • Examples: "His period of self-interrogation led to a profound change in his outlook."

10. Regional Variations:

While the core syllabification is consistent across GB English dialects, subtle variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /ɛ/ vs. /æ/ in 'ter') might occur. These variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • Information: in-for-ma-tion - Similar CVC structure in 'ma' and 'tion'. Stress on 'ma'.
  • Investigation: in-ves-ti-ga-tion - Similar prefix 'in' and suffix 'tion'. Stress on 'ga'.
  • Communication: com-mu-ni-ca-tion - Similar suffix 'tion'. Stress on 'ca'.

The consistency in the final 'tion' syllable across these words demonstrates the rule-governed nature of syllable division in English. The differing stress patterns reflect the inherent rhythmic structure of each word.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.