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Hyphenation ofworld-controlling

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

wor-ld-con-trol-ling

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

/wɜːld kənˈtrəʊlɪŋ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('trol'). The stress pattern is typical for words with the '-ing' suffix.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

wor/wɜː/

Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.

ld/ld/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster following a vowel.

con/kən/

Open syllable, vowel preceded by a consonant.

trol/trəʊl/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant cluster.

ling/lɪŋ/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant cluster.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

world(prefix)
+
control(root)
+
ing(suffix)

Prefix: world

Old English origin, meaning 'human existence, the earth'. Bound morpheme.

Root: control

Latin origin (controllare), meaning 'to check, restrain'. Core meaning.

Suffix: ing

Old English origin, gerund/present participle suffix, indicating ongoing action.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Exercising control over the world; having the power to influence global events.

Examples:

"The world-controlling corporation had a significant impact on global policy."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

understandingun-der-stand-ing

Similar syllable structure with vowel-consonant patterns and the -ing suffix.

overlookingo-ver-look-ing

Similar stress pattern and use of the -ing suffix.

controllingcon-trol-ling

Demonstrates the consistent syllabification of the root 'control' with the -ing suffix.

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 often maintained within a syllable, particularly at the end (coda).

Special Considerations

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

The post-vocalic 'r' in 'world' is a characteristic of RP.

Potential vowel reduction in 'world' in some dialects.

Regional variations in vowel quality (e.g., in 'control').

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'world-controlling' is divided into five syllables: wor-ld-con-trol-ling. The primary stress falls on 'trol'. It's morphologically composed of the prefix 'world-', root 'control-', and suffix '-ing'. Syllabification follows standard English vowel-consonant and consonant cluster rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "world-controlling" (English (GB))

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "world-controlling" is pronounced with a relatively standard Received Pronunciation (RP) accent in British English. The 'r' is typically pronounced after vowels, unlike some other English dialects.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: world- (Old English woruld, meaning "human existence, the earth"). Functions as a bound morpheme modifying the root.
  • Root: control- (Latin controllare, meaning "to check, restrain"). The core meaning of the word.
  • Suffix: -ing (Old English -ing, gerund/present participle suffix). Indicates ongoing action.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: con-trol-ling.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/wɜːld kənˈtrəʊlɪŋ/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

  • wor: /wɜː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. Exception: The 'r' is a post-vocalic rhotic consonant, common in RP.
  • ld: /ld/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster following a vowel. Exception: The 'ld' cluster is a common and stable syllable coda.
  • con: /kən/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by a consonant.
  • trol: /trəʊl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant cluster. Exception: The diphthong /əʊ/ is a complex vowel sound.
  • ling: /lɪŋ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant cluster. Exception: The 'ng' is a nasal consonant cluster, common in English codas.

7. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of "world-controlling" doesn't present significant edge cases for syllabification. The rules apply consistently across the morphemic boundaries.

8. Grammatical Role:

"World-controlling" primarily functions as an adjective (describing something that controls the world). Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Exercising control over the world; having the power to influence global events.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: global, dominant, overarching, all-powerful
  • Antonyms: powerless, insignificant, local, limited
  • Examples: "The world-controlling corporation had a significant impact on global policy."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might reduce the vowel in "world" to /wəld/. This wouldn't significantly alter the syllabification, but the phonetic realization would differ. American English might exhibit a different vowel quality in "control" (/kəntroʊl/).

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • understanding: un-der-stand-ing. Similar syllable structure with vowel-consonant patterns.
  • overlooking: o-ver-look-ing. Similar stress pattern and use of the -ing suffix.
  • controlling: con-trol-ling. Demonstrates the consistent syllabification of the root "control" with the -ing suffix.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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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.