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Hyphenation ofself-responsibility

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-re-spon-si-bil-i-ty

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

/ˌself rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪlɪti/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0010010

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('si'). The stress pattern is typical for words with the '-ibility' suffix.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Open syllable, onset 's', rime 'elf'

re/rə/

Open syllable, onset 'r', rime 'ə'

spon/spɒn/

Closed syllable, onset 'sp', rime 'ɒn'

si/sɪ/

Closed syllable, onset 's', rime 'ɪ'

bil/bɪl/

Closed syllable, onset 'b', rime 'ɪl'

i/ɪ/

Open syllable, single vowel

ty/ti/

Closed syllable, onset 't', rime 'i'

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
respons(root)
+
ibility(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun

Root: respons

Latin *responsum* - a response

Suffix: ibility

Latin *-ibilitas*, forming abstract nouns

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of being accountable for one's own actions and decisions.

Examples:

"He demonstrated a strong sense of self-responsibility."

"Taking self-responsibility is crucial for personal growth."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ibility' suffix and similar consonant clusters.

possibilitypos-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ibility' suffix and similar syllable structure.

capabilityca-pa-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ibility' suffix and similar syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime Structure

Syllables are formed based on the consonant onset and vowel-based rime.

Vowel as Syllable Nucleus

A single vowel can form a syllable on its own.

Special Considerations

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

The compound nature of the word does not introduce significant exceptions.

Regional accents may affect vowel quality but not syllable boundaries.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-responsibility' is divided into seven syllables: self-re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('si'). The word is morphologically complex, consisting of the prefix 'self-', the root 'respons-', and the suffix '-ibility'. Syllabification follows standard English rules based on onset-rime structure and vowel nuclei.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "self-responsibility" is pronounced with a relatively consistent articulation in GB English. The 'l' in 'self' is typically alveolar lateral approximant, and the 'r' in 'responsibility' is a post-alveolar approximant. Vowel qualities are standard RP (Received Pronunciation) vowels.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, the word breaks down 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: respons- (Latin responsum - a response) - denoting answering or being accountable.
  • Suffix: -ibility (Latin -ibilitas) - forming abstract nouns denoting capability or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌself rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪlɪti/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

  • self: /self/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset-Rime structure. 's' is the onset, 'elf' is the rime. No exceptions.
  • re: /rə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Onset-Rime structure. 'r' is the onset, 'ə' is the rime. No exceptions.
  • spon: /spɒn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant Cluster + Vowel. 'sp' is the onset, 'ɒn' is the rime. No exceptions.
  • si: /sɪ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset-Rime structure. 's' is the onset, 'ɪ' is the rime. No exceptions.
  • bil: /bɪl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset-Rime structure. 'b' is the onset, 'ɪl' is the rime. No exceptions.
  • i: /ɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Single vowel constitutes a syllable. No exceptions.
  • ty: /ti/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Onset-Rime structure. 't' is the onset, 'i' is the rime. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of the word doesn't present significant syllabification challenges. The presence of consonant clusters ('sp', 'bl') is standard and follows established rules.

8. Grammatical Role:

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

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of being accountable for one's own actions and decisions.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: accountability, answerability, ownership
  • Antonyms: irresponsibility, recklessness, negligence
  • Examples: "He demonstrated a strong sense of self-responsibility." "Taking self-responsibility is crucial for personal growth."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might reduce the vowel in 'responsibility' to a schwa /ə/, resulting in a slightly different phonetic realization, but the syllabification remains the same. Regional accents may affect vowel quality but not syllable boundaries.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty (similar structure, stress on 'si')
  • possibility: pos-si-bil-i-ty (similar structure, stress on 'si')
  • capability: ca-pa-bil-i-ty (similar structure, stress on 'bi')

The consistent stress pattern on the 'si' syllable in these words highlights the influence of the -ility suffix in attracting stress. The initial consonant clusters also follow similar syllabification patterns.

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

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.