Hyphenation ofcontradiscriminate

Analysis of "contradiscriminate"

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪskrɪmɪneɪt/ in US English.

2. Syllable Division: con-tra-dis-crim-i-nate

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: contra- (Latin, meaning "against, opposite") - Function: Indicates opposition or reversal.
• Root: discriminate (Latin discriminare - to distinguish, differentiate) - Function: Core meaning of distinguishing between things.
• Suffix: None. The word ends with the root.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the third syllable: dis.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪskrɪmɪneɪt/

6. Edge Case Review: This word is relatively straightforward in its syllabification, though the cluster /skr/ can sometimes pose challenges. However, in this case, it falls within acceptable syllable structures.

7. Grammatical Role: "Contradiscriminate" functions primarily as a verb. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: To distinguish against; to make an adverse distinction.
• Grammatical Category: Verb
• Synonyms: discriminate against, differentiate negatively, prejudge
• Antonyms: treat equally, accept, include
• Examples: "The policy was found to contradictiscriminate against minority groups."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Discriminate: dis-crim-i-nate - Similar syllable structure, stress on the second syllable.
• Contradict: con-tra-dict - Similar prefix, stress on the second syllable.
• Terminate: ter-mi-nate - Similar ending, stress on the second syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the length and complexity of the word. "Contradiscriminate" has more syllables and a longer root, shifting the stress to accommodate the overall rhythm.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown:

• con: /kɒn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. Exception: Initial consonant cluster.
• tra: /trə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by consonant cluster.
• dis: /ˈdɪs/ - Closed syllable, stressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
• crim: /krɪm/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster.
• i: /ˈɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Single vowel sound.
• nate: /neɪt/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.

Syllable Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables generally end with a vowel sound.
2. Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are often maintained within a syllable if they form a natural phonetic unit.
3. Stress Placement: Stress influences syllable prominence and can affect vowel reduction.

Special Considerations:

• The prefix contra- is often unstressed.
• The /skr/ cluster in "discriminate" is a common but potentially complex sequence.
• The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables (e.g., /ə/ in "contra") is typical of US English.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided pronunciation is standard US English, slight variations in vowel quality or stress intensity may occur depending on regional accents. These variations would not significantly alter the syllable division.

Short Analysis:

"Contradiscriminate" is a verb of Latin origin, meaning to distinguish against. It is divided into six syllables: con-tra-dis-crim-i-nate, with primary stress on the third syllable ("dis"). The word's structure follows standard English syllabification rules, with open and closed syllables determined by vowel-consonant patterns. The morphemic breakdown reveals a prefix (contra-) and a root (discriminate).