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Hyphenation ofself-intoxication

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-in-tox-i-ca-tion

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

/ˌselfɪntɒksɪˈkeɪʃən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

001001

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('tox'). The first syllable ('self') has secondary stress, while the remaining syllables are unstressed.

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.

in/ɪn/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

tox/tɒks/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

i/ɪ/

Open syllable, single vowel.

ca/keɪ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

tion/ʃən/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
tox(root)
+
i-ca-tion(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: tox

Greek *toxikon* (poison), relating to poison or intoxication.

Suffix: i-ca-tion

Latin-derived suffixes: -i- (connecting vowel), -ca- (causare - to cause), -tion- (nominalizing suffix).

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The act of becoming intoxicated through one's own actions or substances.

Examples:

"His behavior was a form of self-intoxication, a desperate attempt to escape his reality."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

communicationcom-mu-ni-ca-tion

Similar structure with Latinate suffixes.

informationin-for-ma-tion

Similar structure with Latinate suffixes.

imaginationi-mag-i-na-tion

Similar structure with Latinate suffixes.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Pattern

Syllables are typically divided after vowels, especially when followed by consonants.

Consonant Cluster Division

Consonant clusters are often maintained within a single syllable, particularly when forming a recognizable unit (e.g., 'tox').

Special Considerations

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

The 'ct' cluster in 'intoxication' is treated as a unit due to the semantic integrity of the 'tox' root.

Potential vowel reduction in the first syllable ('self') to a schwa /ə/ in some pronunciations.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-intoxication' is divided into six syllables: self-in-tox-i-ca-tion. The primary stress falls on 'tox'. It's a noun formed from a prefix, Greek root, and Latin suffixes. Syllabification follows standard English vowel-consonant patterns.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "self-intoxication" is pronounced with varying degrees of emphasis depending on the speaker and context. Generally, the primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ("tox"). The 'l' in 'self' is typically pronounced as a clear /l/, and the 't' in 'intoxication' is often a dental stop.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-in-tox-i-ca-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: tox- (Greek toxikon - poison) - relating to poison or intoxication.
  • Suffix: -i- (Latin) - connecting vowel.
  • Suffix: -ca- (Latin causare - to cause) - forming a noun.
  • Suffix: -tion- (Latin -tio / -sio) - nominalizing suffix, creating a noun from a verb.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable, "tox".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌselfɪntɒksɪˈkeɪʃən/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • self: /self/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No special cases.
  • in: /ɪn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and ending a syllable. No special cases.
  • tox: /tɒks/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. No special cases.
  • i: /ɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Single vowel constitutes a syllable. No special cases.
  • ca: /keɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. No special cases.
  • tion: /ʃən/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. No special cases.

7. Edge Case Review:

The combination of 'ct' in 'intoxication' could potentially lead to debate, but the standard syllabification separates 'tox' as a unit due to its semantic and etymological integrity.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Self-intoxication" primarily functions as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The act of becoming intoxicated through one's own actions or substances.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: self-poisoning, self-abuse (in some contexts)
  • Antonyms: sobriety, temperance
  • Examples: "His behavior was a form of self-intoxication, a desperate attempt to escape his reality."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the first syllable ("self") to a schwa /ə/. This doesn't significantly alter the syllable division. Regional accents might affect the pronunciation of the 'r' sound, but the core syllabification remains consistent.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • communication: com-mu-ni-ca-tion - Similar structure with Latinate suffixes. Stress on the third syllable.
  • information: in-for-ma-tion - Similar structure with Latinate suffixes. Stress on the second syllable.
  • imagination: i-mag-i-na-tion - Similar structure with Latinate suffixes. Stress on the second syllable.

The key difference lies in the root and the placement of stress. "Self-intoxication" has a Greek-derived root ("tox") and stress on the third syllable, while the others have Latin roots and different stress patterns. The consistent application of syllable division rules based on vowel-consonant patterns is maintained across all examples.

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

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Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

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.