Hyphenation ofuncommensurability

Linguistic Analysis of "uncommensurability" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "uncommensurability" presents challenges due to its length and complex morphology. Pronunciation in GB English typically follows Received Pronunciation (RP) standards, though regional variations exist. The 'r' is generally non-rhotic unless followed by a vowel.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, which prioritize maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and respecting vowel sounds, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
• Root: commensur- (Latin commensus, past participle of commēre – to measure together) - Relating to a common measure.
• Suffix: -ability (Latin -abilitas) - Denotes capability or state of being.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable, "sur". This is determined by the typical stress patterns in English, where stress often falls on the penultimate syllable in words of this length and complexity, but is influenced by the suffix "-ability".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌnˈkɒm.ən.sjʊə.rəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

• un-: /ʌn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No exceptions.
• com-: /kɒm/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are maximized in the onset. No exceptions.
• men-: /ˈmen/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No exceptions.
• su-: /ˈsjʊ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by vowel. No exceptions.
• ra-: /rə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound following a consonant. No exceptions.
• bil-: /bɪl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. No exceptions.
• i-: /ˈɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Single vowel sound. No exceptions.
• ty: /ti/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-sur-" can sometimes be ambiguous, but the stress pattern and the root's origin clearly indicate a division between "su-" and "ra-".

8. Grammatical Role:

"Uncommensurability" primarily functions as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context, as it doesn't inflect.

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The state or quality of not being able to be measured or compared by a common standard.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: incomparability, disproportion, dissimilarity
• Antonyms: comparability, proportionality, similarity
• Examples: "The uncommensurability of their experiences made it difficult to find common ground."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might reduce the vowel in "ability" to a schwa /ə/, resulting in /ʌnˈkɒm.ən.sjʊə.rəˈbɪlə.ti/. This doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty (similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable before "-ity")
• Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty (similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable before "-ity")
• Incompatibility: in-com-pat-i-bil-i-ty (similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable before "-ity")

These words demonstrate a consistent pattern of syllabification and stress placement in English words ending in "-ability". The primary difference lies in the prefixes and root morphemes, which dictate the initial syllable structure.