Hyphenation ofunexceptionalness
Syllable Division:
un-ex-cep-tion-al-ness
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌʌnɪkˈsepʃənl̩nəs/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
000100
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('cep'). The first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth syllables are unstressed.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: un-
Old English, negation
Root: exceptional
Latin *exceptio*, adjective
Suffix: -ness
Old English, noun-forming
The quality or state of being not remarkable; ordinariness.
Examples:
"The unexceptionalness of the painting was its most striking feature."
"He lamented the unexceptionalness of his life."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar prefix, root, and suffix structure.
Shares the root 'exceptional' and similar suffixation.
Similar prefix and suffix structure.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Maximize Onsets
Consonant clusters are maintained at the beginning of syllables whenever possible.
Vowel Nucleus
Syllables are formed around vowel sounds.
Avoid Stranded Consonants
Consonants are not left at the end of a syllable unless necessary.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The schwa /ə/ in the final syllable is common in unstressed syllables.
The syllabic /l/ in 'al' is a feature of RP.
Potential regional variations in vowel quality.
Summary:
The word 'unexceptionalness' is divided into six syllables: un-ex-cep-tion-al-ness. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('cep'). It is morphologically composed of the prefix 'un-', the root 'exceptional', and the suffix '-ness'. Syllabification follows standard English rules prioritizing onsets and vowel nuclei.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "unexceptionalness" (English (GB))
1. Pronunciation Considerations:
The word "unexceptionalness" presents challenges due to its length and multiple affixations. Pronunciation in GB English will generally follow standard Received Pronunciation (RP) or General British tendencies, with potential regional variations in vowel quality.
2. Syllable Division:
Applying English syllable division rules, which prioritize maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and avoiding stranded consonants, we arrive at the following division.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
- Root: exceptional (Latin exceptio - taking out, objection) - Adjective denoting not typical or ordinary.
- Suffix: -ness (Old English) - Noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the third syllable: un-ex-cep-tion-al-ness.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˌʌnɪkˈsepʃənl̩nəs/
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.
- ex-: /ɪk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are generally maintained in the onset. Potential exception: Some speakers might reduce the vowel to /ə/.
- cep-: /sep/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Maximizing onsets. The 'c' is part of the onset.
- tion-: /ʃən/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
- al-: /əl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Syllable division after a vowel. The 'l' forms the coda.
- ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Syllable division after a vowel. The 'n' forms the coda.
7. Edge Case Review:
The schwa /ə/ in the final syllable is common in unstressed syllables in English. The syllabic /l/ in "al" is also a common feature of RP.
8. Grammatical Role:
"Unexceptionalness" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.
9. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The quality or state of being not remarkable; ordinariness.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: commonness, mediocrity, typicality, normality
- Antonyms: exceptionality, extraordinariness, uniqueness
- Examples: "The unexceptionalness of the painting was its most striking feature." "He lamented the unexceptionalness of his life."
10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
Some speakers, particularly in non-RP accents, might pronounce the 't' in "exceptional" as a flap /ɾ/ (similar to the American 'tt' in 'butter'). This wouldn't significantly alter the syllable division.
11. Phonological Comparison:
- "unbelievableness": un-be-liev-a-ble-ness. Similar structure with prefix, root, and suffix. Stress pattern is also comparable.
- "exceptionality": ex-cep-tion-al-i-ty. Shares the root "exceptional" and similar suffixation. Syllable division follows the same principles.
- "unpredictability": un-pre-dict-a-bil-i-ty. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Syllable division is consistent with the rules applied to "unexceptionalness".
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