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Hyphenation ofuncommensurability

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-com-men-su-ra-bil-i-ty

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

/ʌnˈkɒm.ən.sjʊə.rəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001001

Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('sur'), influenced by the suffix '-ability' and typical English stress patterns.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

un/ʌn/

Open syllable, single vowel sound.

com/kɒm/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster onset.

men/men/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

su/sjʊ/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster onset.

ra/rə/

Open syllable, vowel following consonant.

bil/bɪl/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

i/ɪ/

Open syllable, single vowel sound.

ty/ti/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

un-(prefix)
+
commensur-(root)
+
-ability(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English, negation

Root: commensur-

Latin *commensus*, relating to a common measure

Suffix: -ability

Latin *-abilitas*, denotes capability or state of being

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of not being able to be measured or compared by a common standard.

Examples:

"The uncommensurability of their experiences made it difficult to find common ground."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Similar suffix '-ability' and stress pattern.

Accessibilityac-ces-si-bil-i-ty

Similar suffix '-ability' and stress pattern.

Incompatibilityin-com-pat-i-bil-i-ty

Similar suffix '-ability' and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Sound Principle

Syllables are formed around vowel sounds.

Onset Maximization

Consonant clusters are maximized in the onset of a syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The sequence '-sur-' could be ambiguous, but stress and root origin clarify the division.

Potential vowel reduction in '-ability' in some dialects.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'uncommensurability' is divided into eight syllables: un-com-men-su-ra-bil-i-ty. Stress falls on the fifth syllable ('sur'). It's morphologically complex, consisting of the prefix 'un-', the root 'commensur-', and the suffix '-ability'. Syllabification follows standard English rules prioritizing vowel sounds and maximizing onsets.

Detailed Analysis:

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.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.