Hyphenation ofcounter-attraction

Analysis of "counter-attraction"

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced as /ˈkaʊntər əˈtrækʃən/ in General American English.

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: coun-ter-at-trac-tion

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: counter- (Latin contra - against). Function: Reverses or opposes the meaning of the base.
• Root: tract (Latin tractus - drawn, pulled). Function: Core meaning relating to drawing or pulling.
• Suffix: -ion (Latin -io). Function: Forms a noun from a verb.
• Interfix: -er- (English). Function: Connects the prefix and root, often used to create compound words.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the third syllable: trac. A secondary stress falls on the first syllable: coun.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˈkaʊntər əˈtrækʃən/

6. Edge Case Review: Compound words with prefixes like "counter-" often present challenges. The interfix "-er-" can sometimes influence syllabification, but in this case, the vowel sound clearly separates "counter" as a unit.

7. Grammatical Role: "Counter-attraction" primarily functions as a noun. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: A force or influence that opposes or diminishes an attractive force.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: opposition, resistance, repulsion
• Antonyms: attraction, allure, appeal
• Examples: "The counter-attraction of gravity prevented the balloon from rising too quickly."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• interaction: in-ter-ac-tion - Similar syllable structure, stress on the third syllable.
• contradiction: con-tra-dic-tion - Similar prefix and suffix structure, stress on the third syllable.
• distraction: dis-trac-tion - Shares the root "tract", stress on the second syllable. The difference in stress is due to the different prefix and its influence on the overall prosodic weight.

10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

• coun: /kaʊn/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: The 'ou' diphthong is a common vowel combination.
• ter: /tər/ - Closed syllable, secondary stress. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: The 'er' is a schwa sound.
• at: /æt/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
• trac: /træk/ - Closed syllable, primary stress. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
• tion: /ʃən/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: The 'tion' suffix is a common ending.

11. Special Considerations: The interfix "-er-" between "counter" and "attract" is a common feature in English compound words and doesn't significantly alter the syllabification rules.

12. Division Rules:

• Vowel Rule: Syllables are typically built around vowel sounds.
• Closed Syllable Rule: Syllables ending in a consonant are considered closed.
• Open Syllable Rule: Syllables ending in a vowel are considered open.
• Stress Placement Rule: Stress often falls on the penultimate syllable in words of Latin origin, but can be influenced by prefixes and suffixes.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "counter" to a schwa /kəntər/, but this doesn't change the syllable division.