Hyphenation ofantihypertensives

Analysis of "antihypertensives"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "antihypertensives" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a relatively straightforward application of English syllabification rules, though the length and number of vowels require careful consideration.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: an-ti-hy-per-ten-sives

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: anti- (Greek origin, meaning "against") - morphological function: negation.
• Root: hyper- (Greek origin, meaning "over, excessive") - morphological function: intensification.
• Root: tens- (Latin origin, from tensus, past participle of tendere "to stretch") - morphological function: relating to tension.
• Suffix: -ive (Latin origin, meaning "having the quality of") - morphological function: adjective formation.
• Suffix: -s (English origin) - morphological function: pluralization.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the syllable ten. The stress pattern is somewhat complex due to the length of the word and the presence of multiple vowels.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌæn.ti.haɪ.pərˈtɛn.sɪvz/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-per-" can sometimes be a point of ambiguity, but in this case, it clearly forms a syllable on its own due to the vowel sound. The final "-sives" is a relatively common suffix and doesn't present any unusual syllabification challenges.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Antihypertensives" primarily functions as a noun (plural). While it's derived from an adjective ("antihypertensive"), the noun form doesn't significantly alter the syllabification or stress pattern.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Medications used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).
• Grammatical Category: Noun (plural)
• Synonyms: Blood pressure medications, antihypertensic drugs.
• Antonyms: Vasopressors (drugs that raise blood pressure).
• Examples: "The doctor prescribed several antihypertensives to manage his patient's high blood pressure."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Alternatives:
  • opportunities (op-por-tu-ni-ties) - Similar in length and complexity, with multiple vowels. Stress falls on the 'tu' syllable.
  • responsibilities (re-spon-si-bi-li-ties) - Shares the "-ities" suffix. Stress falls on the 'pon' syllable.
  • competitiveness (com-pe-ti-tive-ness) - Contains multiple suffixes and a similar vowel structure. Stress falls on the 'ti' syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the inherent rhythmic patterns of the words and the relative prominence of different vowels. "Antihypertensives" has a more complex vowel sequence, leading to a later stress placement.

Syllable List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

1. an /æn/ - Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant. Rule: Vowel-Consonant (VC) pattern.
2. ti /ti/ - Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant. Rule: Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (VCC) pattern.
3. hy /haɪ/ - Open syllable, diphthong. Rule: Diphthong followed by a consonant.
4. per /pər/ - Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant. Rule: Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (VCC) pattern.
5. ten /tɛn/ - Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant. Rule: Vowel-Consonant (VC) pattern. Primary stress.
6. sives /sɪvz/ - Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant cluster. Rule: Vowel-Consonant-Cluster (VCC+) pattern.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.
2. Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (VCC): Syllables are often divided between two consonants when a vowel is followed by two consonants.
3. Diphthong Rule: Diphthongs generally remain within a single syllable.
4. Vowel-Consonant-Cluster (VCC+): Syllables are divided before consonant clusters.

Special Considerations:

• The word's length and the presence of multiple vowels and suffixes make it a complex case.
• The stress pattern is influenced by the morphological structure of the word.
• Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly affect the precise phonetic realization of the vowels, but not the core syllabification.

Short Analysis:

"Antihypertensives" is a six-syllable word (an-ti-hy-per-ten-sives) with primary stress on the fifth syllable ("ten"). It's a noun derived from multiple morphemes (anti-, hyper-, tens-, -ive, -s) and follows standard English syllabification rules based on vowel-consonant patterns.