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Hyphenation ofself-sacrificingness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-sac-ri-fic-ing-ness

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

/ˌselfˈsæk.rɪ.fɪs.ɪŋ.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

010110

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('fic'). Secondary stress may be present on the first syllable ('self').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

sac/sæk/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ri/rɪ/

Open syllable, vowel sound.

fic/fɪs/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ing/ɪŋ/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant, final syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
sacrifice(root)
+
ing(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: sacrifice

Latin *sacrificium* via Old French, to give up something valued.

Suffix: ing

Old English, progressive/gerundive marker, also used to form adjectives.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of being willing to give up one's own interests or comfort for the sake of others.

Examples:

"Her self-sacrificingness was admired by all who knew her."

"The mother demonstrated remarkable self-sacrificingness in caring for her disabled child."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Similar structure with a suffix, but different root.

kindnesskind-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix, simpler structure.

interestingnessin-ter-est-ing-ness

Longer word with multiple morphemes and a similar suffix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable

A syllable ending in a vowel sound is considered open.

Closed Syllable

A syllable ending in a consonant sound is considered closed.

Special Considerations

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

The '-ing' suffix is treated as a distinct syllable due to its function as part of the adjective 'sacrificing'.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation may exist, but do not affect syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-sacrificingness' is divided into six syllables: self-sac-ri-fic-ing-ness. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('fic'). It is a noun formed from the prefix 'self-', the root 'sacrifice', and the suffixes '-ing' and '-ness'. Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel and consonant sequences.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "self-sacrificingness" presents challenges due to its length and complex morphology. Pronunciation in GB English will generally follow standard Received Pronunciation (RP) or a similar accent, with potential regional variations.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-sac-ri-fic-ing-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix, indicating the action is performed by the subject.
  • Root: sacrifice (Latin sacrificium via Old French) - to give up something valued for a higher purpose.
  • Suffix: -ing (Old English) - progressive/gerundive marker, also used to form adjectives.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English) - noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: sac-ri-fic-ing-ness. Secondary stress may be present on the first syllable: self-sac-ri-fic-ing-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌselfˈsæk.rɪ.fɪs.ɪŋ.nəs/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • self: /self/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No special cases.
  • sac: /sæk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and ending a syllable. No special cases.
  • ri: /rɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound, even if preceded by a consonant. No special cases.
  • fic: /fɪs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and ending a syllable. No special cases.
  • ing: /ɪŋ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by nasal consonant(s) and ending a syllable. No special cases.
  • ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and ending a syllable. No special cases.

7. Edge Case Review:

The "-ing" suffix can sometimes create ambiguity, but in this case, it clearly functions as part of the adjective "sacrificing," and thus forms a distinct syllable.

8. Grammatical Role:

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

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of being willing to give up one's own interests or comfort for the sake of others.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: altruism, selflessness, devotion, generosity
  • Antonyms: selfishness, egoism, self-centeredness
  • Examples: "Her self-sacrificingness was admired by all who knew her." "The mother demonstrated remarkable self-sacrificingness in caring for her disabled child."

10. Regional Variations:

Pronunciation of the vowel sounds may vary slightly depending on regional accents within GB English. However, the syllable division remains consistent.

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.
  • interestingness: in-ter-est-ing-ness - Longer word with multiple morphemes and a similar suffix. Stress on the third syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the length and complexity of the root word and the presence of multiple suffixes. "Self-sacrificingness" has a longer root and a more complex morphological structure, leading to stress on the third syllable.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/5/2025

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What is hyphenation

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.