Hyphenation ofunresponsiveness

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:

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.