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Hyphenation ofunself-righteousness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-self-right-eous-ness

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

/ʌnˈselfˌraɪtɪəsnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00010

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('eous'). The other 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.

self/self/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

right/raɪt/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

eous/iːəs/

Open syllable, primary stress.

ness/nəs/

Open syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

un-(prefix)
+
self-right(root)
+
-eousness(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English, negation

Root: self-right

Old English, relating to oneself and moral correctness

Suffix: -eousness

Latin via Old French, forming a noun denoting a state or quality

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state of not being morally justified or having a false sense of moral superiority.

Examples:

"His unself-righteousness was evident in his constant need to criticize others."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix and a similar morphological structure.

kindnesskind-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix, demonstrating a common suffix-based syllable division.

selfishnessself-ish-ness

Contains the 'self-' root and '-ness' suffix, illustrating similar morphemic segmentation.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Syllables generally end in vowel sounds. This applies to 'un-', 'eous-', and 'ness'.

Consonant Rule

Syllables can end in consonant sounds, as seen in 'self-' and 'right-'

Stress Placement

Stress often falls on vowels, particularly in open syllables, as observed in 'eous'.

Special Considerations

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

The length and complexity of the word due to multiple affixes.

Potential regional variations in vowel pronunciation, but syllable division remains consistent.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'unself-righteousness' is divided into five syllables: un-self-right-eous-ness. The primary stress falls on 'eous'. It's a noun formed from the prefix 'un-', the roots 'self-' and 'right-', and the suffixes '-eous' and '-ness'. Syllable division follows standard English vowel and consonant rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "unself-righteousness" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "unself-righteousness" presents challenges due to its length and complex morphology. Pronunciation in GB English will generally follow standard Received Pronunciation (RP) or a similar accent, with potential regional variations.

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: self- (Old English) - Referring to oneself.
  • Root: right- (Old English) - Morally good, justified.
  • Suffix: -eous (Latin via Old French) - Having the quality of.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English) - State or quality of.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: eous.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌnˈselfˌraɪtɪəsnəs/

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 typically end in a vowel sound. No exceptions.
  • self-: /self/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Syllables can end in consonant sounds. No exceptions.
  • right-: /raɪt/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Syllables can end in consonant sounds. No exceptions.
  • eous-: /ˈiːəs/ - Stressed, open syllable. Rule: Stress often falls on vowels, and open syllables are more likely to be stressed.
  • ness-: /nəs/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables typically end in a vowel sound. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

The combination of multiple affixes and the length of the word makes it a complex case. However, the syllable division follows standard English rules without significant exceptions.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Unself-righteousness" functions primarily as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function, as it's not a verb or adjective that would undergo stress shifting.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state of not being morally justified or having a false sense of moral superiority.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: hypocrisy, sanctimoniousness, self-importance
  • Antonyms: humility, modesty, righteousness
  • Example Usage: "His unself-righteousness was evident in his constant need to criticize others."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some regional variations might exhibit slight differences in vowel quality (e.g., /ʌ/ vs. /ə/ in "un-"), but the core syllable division remains consistent.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar structure with a suffix. Stress on the second syllable.
  • kindness: kind-ness - Simpler structure, but shares the "-ness" suffix. Stress on the first syllable.
  • selfishness: self-ish-ness - Similar root "self-" and suffix "-ness". Stress on the first syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the presence and weight of the prefixes and the vowel sounds within the root. "Unself-righteousness" has a longer root and a prefix, shifting the stress towards the middle.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/5/2025

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What is hyphenation

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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.