Hyphenation ofself-righteousness
Syllable Division:
self-right-eous-ness
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/selfˈraɪtʃəsnəs/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
0101
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('eous'). The stress pattern is typical for words with the '-eous' suffix.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, initial syllable.
Open syllable, containing a diphthong.
Closed syllable, containing a long vowel and schwa.
Closed syllable, containing a schwa.
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: right
Old English, denoting moral correctness.
Suffix: eous
Latin via Old French, adjective-forming suffix.
The quality of feeling or showing that one is morally superior to other people.
Examples:
"Her self-righteousness was infuriating."
"He spoke with an air of self-righteousness."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
V-C-V Pattern
Syllable division occurs before the vowel when a vowel is followed by a consonant and then another vowel.
Maximize Onsets
Prioritizes creating syllables with consonant clusters at the beginning (onsets).
Avoid Stranded Consonants
Avoids leaving single consonants at the end of a syllable without a following vowel.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The schwa sound (/ə/) in 'eous' and 'ness' can lead to variations in perceived syllable boundaries, but the division remains consistent with phonological principles.
Non-rhoticity in GB English affects the pronunciation of /r/ after vowels, but does not alter the syllable division.
Summary:
The word 'self-righteousness' is divided into four syllables: self-right-eous-ness. The primary stress falls on 'eous'. The syllabification follows standard English rules prioritizing vowel-consonant patterns and maximizing onsets. The word is morphologically complex, comprising a prefix, root, and two suffixes.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "self-righteousness" (English (GB))
1. Pronunciation Considerations:
The word "self-righteousness" presents challenges due to its compound structure and multiple morphemes. British English pronunciation generally exhibits non-rhoticity (absence of /r/ after vowels), which influences syllable boundaries.
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 is as follows (using only original letters):
self-right-eous-ness
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the action is performed by the subject.
- Root: right- (Old English) - denoting moral correctness, justice.
- Suffix: -eous (Latin via Old French) - adjective-forming suffix meaning "characterized by" or "possessing the quality of."
- Suffix: -ness (Old English) - noun-forming suffix denoting a state, quality, or condition.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the third syllable: right-eous-ness. This is typical for words with the -eous suffix.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/selfˈraɪtʃəsnəs/ (Note: /r/ is often not pronounced after vowels in GB English)
6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:
- self: /self/ - Open syllable. Rule: V-C-V pattern, syllable division occurs before the vowel. No exceptions.
- right: /raɪt/ - Open syllable. Rule: V-C-V pattern, syllable division occurs before the vowel. No exceptions.
- eous: /ˈiːəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster following a vowel, syllable division occurs after the vowel. Potential exception: the /iː/ vowel is a diphthong, but it functions as a single vowel sound for syllabification.
- ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster following a vowel, syllable division occurs after the vowel. No exceptions.
7. Edge Case Review:
The combination of morphemes and the presence of the schwa sound (/ə/) in "eous" and "ness" can lead to variations in perceived syllable boundaries. However, the above division aligns with standard phonological principles.
8. Grammatical Role:
"Self-righteousness" primarily functions as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context.
9. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The quality of feeling or showing that one is morally superior to other people.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: sanctimoniousness, hypocrisy, moralizing, self-importance
- Antonyms: humility, modesty, selflessness
- Examples: "Her self-righteousness was infuriating." "He spoke with an air of self-righteousness."
10. Regional Variations:
While the core syllabification remains consistent, some regional accents might exhibit slight variations in vowel pronunciation, potentially influencing the perceived length or emphasis of certain syllables. However, the fundamental syllable division remains unchanged.
11. Phonological Comparison:
- happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar structure with a suffix. Stress on the second syllable.
- kindness: kind-ness - Simpler structure, but shares the -ness suffix. Stress on the first syllable.
- righteous: right-eous - Shares the root and suffix. Stress on the second syllable.
The differences in stress placement are due to the presence of the self- prefix in "self-righteousness," which shifts the stress pattern. The consistent application of syllable division rules based on vowel-consonant patterns is observed across all three words.
The hottest word splits in English (GB)
See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.
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.