Hyphenation ofunrepresentative
Syllable Division:
un-re-pre-sen-ta-tive
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌʌnrɪprɪˈzɛntətɪv/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
000001
Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('tive').
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, unstressed.
Open syllable, unstressed.
Open syllable, unstressed.
Open syllable, unstressed.
Open syllable, unstressed.
Open syllable, stressed.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: un
Old English origin, negation.
Root: represent
Latin origin (repraesentare), meaning 'to present again'.
Suffix: ative
Latin origin (-ativus), forming adjectives.
Not representative; not typical or characteristic.
Examples:
"The sample was not representative of the population."
"His views are unrepresentative."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar structure with prefix and suffix, stress pattern.
Root word, nearly identical syllabification.
Similar suffix '-ative', stress pattern.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel Rule
Syllables generally end in a vowel sound. Each syllable is separated where a vowel sound is followed by a consonant.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
Consonant clusters '-pr-' and '-nt-' do not pose significant syllabification challenges.
The word's length and multiple morphemes contribute to its complexity.
Summary:
The word 'unrepresentative' is divided into six syllables: un-re-pre-sen-ta-tive. It consists of the prefix 'un-', the root 'represent', and the suffix '-ative'. The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('tive'). Syllabification follows the vowel rule, separating syllables at vowel sounds.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "unrepresentative" (English (GB))
1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:
The word "unrepresentative" is a relatively complex word, common in formal English. Its pronunciation in GB English is /ˌʌnrɪprɪˈzɛntətɪv/. It features multiple morphemes and presents challenges in syllabification due to consonant clusters and vowel sequences.
2. Syllable Division:
Following GB English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows (using only original letters):
un-re-pre-sen-ta-tive
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
- Root: represent (Latin repraesentare - to present again) - To symbolize, stand for, or depict.
- Suffix: -ative (Latin -ativus) - Forming adjectives from verbs, indicating a quality or tendency.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌʌnrɪprɪˈzɛntətɪv/. This is typical for words ending in -ative.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˌʌnrɪprɪˈzɛntətɪv/
6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:
Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable:
- un-: /ʌn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables generally end in a vowel sound. No exceptions here.
- re-: /rɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables generally end in a vowel sound.
- pre-: /prɛ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables generally end in a vowel sound.
- sen-: /sɛn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables generally end in a vowel sound.
- ta-: /tə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables generally end in a vowel sound.
- tive: /tɪv/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables generally end in a vowel sound.
7. Edge Case Review & Exceptions:
The consonant cluster "-pr-" and "-nt-" are common in English and don't present exceptional syllabification challenges. The vowel sequences are also standard. The main complexity lies in the length of the word and the number of morphemes.
8. Grammatical Role:
"Unrepresentative" primarily functions as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.
9. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: Not representative; not typical or characteristic.
- Grammatical Category: Adjective
- Synonyms: atypical, non-typical, uncharacteristic, untypical
- Antonyms: representative, typical, characteristic
- Examples: "The sample was not representative of the population as a whole." "His views are unrepresentative of the party's stance."
10. Regional Variations:
While the core pronunciation is consistent across GB English, slight variations in vowel quality might occur depending on regional accents. These variations wouldn't significantly alter the syllabification.
11. Phonological Comparison:
- informative: in-for-ma-tive - Similar structure with a prefix and suffix. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
- representative: re-pre-sen-ta-tive - The root word. Syllabification is nearly identical, differing only by the initial "un-".
- alternative: al-ter-na-tive - Similar suffix -ative. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
The consistency in stress placement on the penultimate syllable in these words highlights a common pattern for adjectives ending in -ative. The syllabification rules applied are consistent across these examples, demonstrating the predictability of English syllable structure.
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