Hyphenation ofcounter-extension

Analysis of "counter-extension"

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

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: coun-ter-ex-ten-sion

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: counter- (Latin, contra- meaning "against, opposite") - Negative prefix indicating opposition or reversal.
• Root: extend (Latin, extendere meaning "to stretch out") - The core meaning of lengthening or broadening.
• Suffix: -ion (Latin, -io) - Noun-forming suffix, creating a noun of action or state.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the third syllable, "ex", and a secondary stress on the first syllable, "coun".

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˈkaʊntərɪkˈstɛnʃən/

6. Edge Case Review: Compound words and words with prefixes often present syllabification challenges. The hyphenated nature of "counter-" initially suggests a separate unit, but its functional integration into the word necessitates treating it as a single prosodic unit for stress and syllabification.

7. Grammatical Role: The word primarily functions as a noun. While "extend" can be a verb, the addition of "-ion" solidifies the noun form. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of the root's potential verb form.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: A thing that opposes or counteracts an extension; an action or measure taken to limit or reverse an extension.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: curtailment, reduction, limitation, reversal
• Antonyms: expansion, increase, augmentation
• Examples: "The government implemented a counter-extension to the highway project due to environmental concerns."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• intervention: in-ter-ven-tion - Similar syllable structure, stress on the second syllable. Both have a prefix + root + suffix structure.
• prevention: pre-ven-tion - Similar syllable structure, stress on the second syllable. Again, a prefix + root + suffix structure.
• extension: ex-ten-sion - Shares the "extension" portion, demonstrating consistent syllabification of that component. Stress on the first syllable.

Syllable Breakdown Details:

• coun: /kaʊn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Potential exception: The 'ou' diphthong can sometimes be considered a single vowel sound, but here it functions as a distinct syllable onset.
• ter: /tər/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel and consonant.
• ex: /ɛks/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel and consonant. Primary stress.
• ten: /tɛn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
• sion: /ʃən/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by vowel and consonant.

Exceptions/Special Cases:

• The "counter-" prefix can sometimes be treated as a single syllable ("coun-ter"), but the more common and phonologically justifiable division is as shown above.
• The 'ex' syllable receives primary stress, which is typical for prefixes in multi-syllabic words.

Division Rules Applied:

• Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound.
• Consonant-Vowel Division: Syllables are often divided before a vowel sound.
• Closed Syllable Principle: Syllables ending in a consonant are typically closed.
• Open Syllable Principle: Syllables ending in a vowel are typically open.

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