Hyphenation ofcomplement-binding

Linguistic Analysis of "complement-binding"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "complement-binding" presents a challenge due to its compound nature and the presence of multiple morphemes. The pronunciation in US English involves a relatively straightforward application of English syllabification rules, though the hyphenated structure influences the perceived boundaries.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: complement- (Latin complēmentum – something that completes). Morphological function: Adjective-forming.
• Root: bind- (Old English bindan – to tie, fasten). Morphological function: Verb.
• Suffix: -ing (Old English -ing). Morphological function: Progressive/gerundive marker.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the first syllable of "complement". The secondary stress falls on "bind".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌkɑmplɪˈmɛnt ˈbaɪndɪŋ/

6. Edge Case Review:

The hyphenated structure is a key consideration. While technically a compound, the pronunciation treats it as a single word, and syllabification follows standard rules.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Complement-binding" functions primarily as an adjective. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Relating to or characterized by the property of requiring a complement. In linguistics, specifically, it describes a predicate that requires an argument (a complement) to complete its meaning.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: Complement-taking, complement-requiring
• Antonyms: Intransitive (in a linguistic context)
• Examples: "The verb 'give' is a complement-binding verb because it requires an object."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "understanding": un-der-stand-ing. Similar structure with a prefix, root, and suffix. Stress on the first syllable of the root.
• "overthinking": o-ver-think-ing. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress on the second syllable.
• "heartbreaking": heart-break-ing. Compound word with a similar suffix. Stress on the first syllable of the first element.

The differences in stress placement are due to the varying weight and prominence of the morphemes. "Complement" is a longer and more complex morpheme than "over" or "heart", leading to its primary stress.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Onset-Rime Division: Syllables are divided into an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a rime (vowel and any following consonants).
2. Vowel-Initial Syllable: If a syllable begins with a vowel, it forms its own syllable.
3. Consonant Cluster Handling: Consonant clusters are maintained within the onset or coda as much as possible.

Special Considerations:

The hyphenated nature of the word is a morphological consideration, but doesn't alter the phonological syllabification. The compound structure is treated as a single prosodic word.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Minor variations in vowel quality (e.g., /æ/ instead of /ɑ/ in "com") might occur depending on regional accents, but these do not significantly affect the syllabification.