Hyphenation ofcomprehensibleness

Linguistic Analysis of "comprehensibleness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "comprehensibleness" is pronounced /ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnsɪblnəs/ in US English. It's a relatively complex word with multiple morphemes and a potential for varied syllabification interpretations.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: com-pre-hen-si-ble-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: com- (Latin, meaning "with, together") - Function: Intensifier/completer.
• Root: prehend (Latin, meaning "to grasp, seize") - Function: Core meaning related to understanding.
• Suffix: -en- (Latin, forming adjectives) - Function: Adjectival marker.
• Suffix: -si- (Latin, from scientia, meaning "knowledge") - Function: Relating to knowledge or understanding.
• Suffix: -ble- (English, from Old French –ble, from Latin –bilis) - Function: Forms adjectives meaning "capable of being".
• Suffix: -ness- (English, from Old English –nes) - Function: Forms nouns denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: /ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnsɪblnəs/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnsɪblnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-si-ble" can sometimes be ambiguous, but in this case, the established pronunciation dictates the division. The final "-ness" is a clear suffix and easily separated.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Comprehensibleness" functions solely as a noun. As a noun, the stress pattern remains consistent. If a verb form existed (which it doesn't naturally), the stress might shift, but that's not relevant here.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of being comprehensible; the degree to which something is understandable.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: understandability, intelligibility, clarity, perceptibility
• Antonyms: incomprehensibility, obscurity, ambiguity
• Examples: "The comprehensibleness of the instructions was greatly appreciated." "The professor valued comprehensibleness in student essays."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty - Similar structure, also with multiple suffixes. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Understandableness: un-der-stand-a-ble-ness - Similar structure, with a compound root. Stress falls on the fourth syllable.

The key difference is the length of the root and the specific suffixes attached. "Comprehensibleness" has a longer, more complex root derived from Latin, leading to a different stress pattern.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

• Onset-Rime Division: The most common rule, dividing syllables based on the consonant onset and the vowel-containing rime.
• Vowel-Consonant-E Rule: Not applicable here, as there are no silent 'e's at the end of syllables.

Special Considerations:

The word's length and multiple suffixes make it prone to mis-syllabification. The consistent application of the onset-rime division, guided by the established pronunciation, is crucial.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Minor variations in vowel sounds (e.g., /ɑ/ vs. /ɒ/ in "com") might occur, but these don't significantly alter the syllable division.