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Hyphenation ofunresponsibleness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-re-spon-si-ble-ness

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

/ʌnɹɪˌspɒnsɪˈblɪnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

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Primary stress falls on the final syllable ('ness'). The preceding syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

un/ʌn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

re/rɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

spon/spɒn/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

si/sɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ble/blɪ/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, stressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

un-(prefix)
+
respons-(root)
+
-ible-ness(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English, negation

Root: respons-

Latin 'respondēre' - to answer

Suffix: -ible-ness

Latin '-ibilis' and Old English '-nes', capability/state of

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state of not being responsible.

Examples:

"His unresponsibleness led to the project's failure."

"The company showed a shocking level of unresponsibleness."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

irresponsibilityir-re-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the 'responsibility' root and similar suffix structure.

unbelievablenessun-be-liev-a-ble-ness

Shares the 'un-' prefix and '-ness' suffix, similar morphological structure.

possibilitypos-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ibility' suffix, demonstrating consistent syllabification of that morpheme.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Centric Syllabification

Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. Each vowel sound typically constitutes a syllable nucleus.

Closed Syllable Rule

A syllable ending in a consonant sound is considered a closed syllable.

Open Syllable Rule

A syllable ending in a vowel sound is considered an open syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The sequence '-spon-' could be analyzed differently, but vowel-centric syllabification is prioritized.

Regional accents may affect vowel quality but not syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'unresponsibleness' is divided into six syllables: un-re-spon-si-ble-ness. The primary stress falls on the final syllable ('ness'). It's a noun formed from the prefix 'un-', the root 'respons-', and the suffixes '-ible-' and '-ness'. Syllabification follows standard English vowel-centric rules.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "unresponsibleness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in GB English follows standard Received Pronunciation (RP) tendencies, with a tendency towards vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: respons- (Latin respondēre - to answer) - Respond, reply.
  • Suffix: -ible- (Latin -ibilis) - Capable of, tending to.
  • Suffix: -ness- (Old English -nes) - State or quality of.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: un-re-spon-si-ble-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌnɹɪˌspɒnsɪˈblɪnəs/

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.
  • re-: /rɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No exceptions.
  • spon-: /spɒn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: A syllable ends in a consonant sound. No exceptions.
  • si-: /sɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No exceptions.
  • ble-: /blɪ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: A syllable ends in a consonant sound. No exceptions.
  • ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: A syllable ends in a consonant sound. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-spon-" could potentially be analyzed as a more complex onset, but the standard syllabification prioritizes vowel-centric syllable formation.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Unresponsibleness" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state of not being responsible.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: irresponsibility, unaccountability
  • Antonyms: responsibility, accountability
  • Examples: "His unresponsibleness led to the project's failure." "The company showed a shocking level of unresponsibleness."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables, but the core syllabification remains consistent. Regional accents (e.g., Scottish, Northern English) might exhibit variations in vowel quality, but not syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • irresponsibility: ir-re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Similar structure, stress on the third syllable.
  • unbelievableness: un-be-liev-a-ble-ness - Similar prefix and suffix structure, stress on the fourth syllable.
  • possibility: pos-si-bil-i-ty - Shares the "-ibility" suffix, stress on the first syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the weight and prominence of the root morpheme. "Responsibility" and "believability" have roots that naturally attract stress, while "possibility" has a lighter root.

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

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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.