HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofself-supportingly

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-sup-port-ing-ly

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

/self səˈpɔːtɪŋli/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('port'). The stress pattern follows typical English stress rules for words with multiple suffixes, where stress recedes from the root.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

sup/sʌp/

Closed syllable, containing a short vowel.

port/pɔːt/

Closed, stressed syllable, containing a long vowel.

ing/ɪŋ/

Closed syllable, nasal ending.

ly/li/

Open syllable, adverbial suffix.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
support(root)
+
-ingly(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: support

Latin *supportere*, meaning 'to bear up'.

Suffix: -ingly

Combination of -ing (progressive/gerundive) and -ly (adverbial).

Meanings & Definitions
adverb(grammatical role in sentences)

In a manner that provides for oneself without assistance from others.

Examples:

"She managed to live self-supportingly after leaving home."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Interestinglyin-ter-est-ing-ly

Similar structure with multiple suffixes and the '-ly' adverbial ending.

Responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Similar suffixation pattern with multiple suffixes attached to a root.

Eventuallye-ven-tu-al-ly

Shares the '-ly' adverbial suffix and a similar syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Nucleus Rule

Each syllable must contain a vowel sound acting as its nucleus.

Consonant Cluster Division

Consonant clusters are split based on sonority, with more sonorous sounds tending to attach to the following syllable.

Stress Assignment

Stress is assigned based on typical English stress patterns for multi-syllabic words, often receding from the root as suffixes are added.

Special Considerations

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

The potential for reducing the vowel in 'self' to /səf/ in some dialects.

The possibility of treating '-ing' as part of the root, though separating it is more consistent with general syllabification principles.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-supportingly' is divided into five syllables: self-sup-port-ing-ly. The primary stress falls on 'port'. It's an adverb formed from the root 'support' with the prefixes 'self-' and suffixes '-ing' and '-ly'. Syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel nuclei and consonant cluster division.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "self-supportingly" presents challenges due to its length, compound structure, and the presence of multiple suffixes. British English pronunciation generally exhibits non-rhoticity (absence of /r/ after vowels), which will influence the phonetic transcription.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, we prioritize vowel sounds as syllable nuclei. Consonant clusters are generally split based on sonority, with more sonorous sounds tending to attach to the following syllable.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating performance of an action by the subject.
  • Root: support (Latin supportere - to bear up) - the core meaning of providing assistance or holding up.
  • Suffix: -ing (Old English) - progressive/gerundive aspect marker, also nominalizing.
  • Suffix: -ly (Old English) - adverbial suffix, converting the verb-derived form into an adverb.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable, "port". This is typical for words with multiple suffixes, where stress recedes from the root as suffixes are added.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/self səˈpɔːtɪŋli/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • self /self/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No special cases.
  • sup /sʌp/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Potential exception: The /p/ could theoretically be considered part of the following syllable, but the vowel /ʌ/ clearly forms a nucleus.
  • port /pɔːt/ - Closed syllable, stressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Stress assignment based on typical stress patterns for multi-syllabic words.
  • ing /ɪŋ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by nasal consonant cluster. No special cases.
  • ly /li/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. No special cases.

7. Edge Case Review:

The "-ing" suffix can sometimes be considered part of the root, especially in compounds. However, treating it as a separate syllable is more consistent with general syllabification principles.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Self-supportingly" functions exclusively as an adverb. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: In a manner that provides for oneself without assistance from others.
  • Grammatical Category: Adverb
  • Synonyms: independently, autonomously, self-reliantly
  • Antonyms: dependently, with assistance
  • Examples: "She managed to live self-supportingly after leaving home."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might reduce the vowel in "self" to /səf/, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllable division. Regional variations in vowel quality (e.g., /ɔː/ vs. /ɒ/ in "port") are possible but don't affect syllabification.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • Interestingly: in-ter-est-ing-ly - Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress on "est".
  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffixation pattern. Stress on "pon".
  • Eventually: e-ven-tu-al-ly - Similar adverbial suffix "-ly". Stress on "tu".

The differences in stress placement are due to the inherent stress patterns of the root words and the number of suffixes attached. "Self-supportingly" has a longer root and a more complex structure, leading to stress on the third syllable.

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

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.