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Hyphenation ofunresponsiveness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-re-spon-si-ve-ness

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

/ʌnɹɪˈspɒnsɪvnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('si'), indicated by '1'. All other syllables are unstressed ('0').

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/

Closed syllable, stressed.

ve/və/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

un-(prefix)
+
respons-(root)
+
-ive(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English, negation

Root: respons-

Latin *responsum*, past participle of *respondere* – to answer

Suffix: -ive

Latin, adjective forming

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of not responding or being unresponsive.

Examples:

"His unresponsiveness to her pleas was heartbreaking."

"The patient's unresponsiveness was a worrying sign."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the 're-spon-' syllable structure and similar morphological complexity.

Responsivere-spon-sive

Shares the 're-spon-' syllable structure, demonstrating consistent division.

Sensitivenesssen-si-tive-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix and demonstrates consistent syllabification of suffixes.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound, especially when followed by a consonant.

Consonant Cluster Division

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are easily separable by a vowel sound.

Stress-Timing

English is a stress-timed language, meaning syllables are adjusted in duration to accommodate stressed syllables.

Special Considerations

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

Potential for /r/ dropping in RP English, but this does not affect syllable division.

The word's length and multiple morphemes contribute to its complexity.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'unresponsiveness' is divided into six syllables (un-re-spon-si-ve-ness) with stress on the fourth syllable. It's a noun formed from Latin roots with English prefixes and suffixes, and its syllabification follows standard English phonological rules.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "unresponsiveness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in GB English follows standard Received Pronunciation (RP) tendencies, with a tendency towards non-rhoticity (non-pronunciation of /r/ after vowels).

2. Syllable Division:

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

un-re-spon-si-ve-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: respons- (Latin responsum, past participle of respondere – to answer) - Indicates responding or replying.
  • Suffix: -ive (Latin) - Adjective forming suffix, meaning "tending to" or "capable of".
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English) - Noun forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: re-spon-si-ve-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌnɹɪˈspɒnsɪvnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-spon-" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, the stress pattern and common pronunciation dictate the division. The 'r' after the vowel is often not pronounced in RP English.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Unresponsiveness" primarily functions as a noun. While theoretically, one could attempt to use it adjectivally (though it's uncommon and awkward), the syllabification and stress remain consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of not responding or being unresponsive.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: indifference, apathy, inertness, insensitivity
  • Antonyms: responsiveness, sensitivity, attentiveness
  • Examples: "His unresponsiveness to her pleas was heartbreaking." "The patient's unresponsiveness was a worrying sign."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar structure, stress on the third syllable. The addition of "-bil-i-ty" adds syllables but doesn't fundamentally alter the core syllable division of "respons-".
  • Responsive: re-spon-sive. Stress on the second syllable. Shorter word, but shares the "re-spon-" syllable structure.
  • Sensitiveness: sen-si-tive-ness. Similar suffix "-ness", but different root. Stress on the third syllable. Demonstrates the consistent application of the "-ness" syllable.

10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
un /ʌn/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel + Consonant None
re /rɪ/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel + Consonant Potential for /r/ dropping in RP
spon /spɒn/ Closed syllable, unstressed Consonant Cluster + Vowel + Consonant None
si /sɪ/ Closed syllable, stressed Consonant + Vowel None
ve /və/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel + Consonant None
ness /nəs/ Closed syllable, unstressed Consonant + Vowel + Consonant None

11. Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound, especially when followed by a consonant. (e.g., un-, re-)
  • Consonant Cluster Division: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are easily separable by a vowel sound. (e.g., spon-)
  • Stress-Timing: English is a stress-timed language, meaning syllables are adjusted in duration to accommodate stressed syllables.

12. Special Considerations:

The word's length and multiple morphemes make it a complex case. The potential for /r/ dropping in RP English is a minor consideration, but doesn't affect the syllable division itself.

13. Short Analysis:

"Unresponsiveness" is a noun formed from the root "respond" with the prefixes "un-" and suffixes "-ive" and "-ness". It is divided into six syllables: un-re-spon-si-ve-ness, with primary stress on the fourth syllable (/ˈsɪ/). The word's structure reflects its morphological composition, and its pronunciation follows standard GB English phonological rules.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

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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.