Hyphenation ofcounter-revolutionary

Analysis of "counter-revolutionary"

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

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: coun-ter-rev-o-lu-tion-ar-y.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: counter- (French origin, meaning "against" or "opposing"). Morphological function: negation/opposition.
• Root: revolution (Latin revolutio - a turning around or change). Morphological function: core meaning of a fundamental change.
• Suffix: -ary (Latin -arius, forming adjectives relating to a thing or activity). Morphological function: adjective formation, indicating belonging to or relating to a revolution.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌkaʊntərˌrevəˈluːʃənəri/. Specifically, on the 'u' in 'lu-tion'.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌkaʊntərˌrevəˈluːʃənəri/

6. Edge Case Review: The compound nature of the word and the presence of multiple vowels create potential ambiguity. However, the standard syllabification rules for English, prioritizing vowel sounds, are applied.

7. Grammatical Role: "Counter-revolutionary" primarily functions as an adjective. As an adjective, the stress pattern remains consistent. It can also function as a noun, referring to a person holding such beliefs. As a noun, the stress pattern remains the same.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Opposed to or seeking to reverse a revolution.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective (primarily), Noun
• Synonyms: reactionary, conservative, anti-progressive
• Antonyms: revolutionary, progressive, radical
• Examples: "The counter-revolutionary forces attempted to overthrow the government." "He was labeled a counter-revolutionary by the new regime."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• revolutionary: rev-o-lu-tion-ar-y. Similar syllable structure, stress on 'lu'.
• evolutionary: e-vo-lu-tion-ar-y. Similar syllable structure, stress on 'lu'.
• stationary: sta-tion-ar-y. Different syllable structure, but shares the '-ary' suffix. Stress on 'tion'.

The differences in syllable division arise from the initial consonant clusters (e.g., "counter-" vs. "e-" or "sta-"). English allows for complex onsets, but syllable division prioritizes breaking after vowels.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel After Consonant: Syllables are generally divided after vowels.
2. Vowel After Consonant Cluster: Syllables are divided after consonant clusters preceding a vowel.
3. Syllabic Consonant: /l/, /m/, /n/, /r/ can form syllables when following a vowel.

Special Considerations:

• The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of morphemic boundaries.
• The presence of diphthongs (e.g., /aʊ/ in "coun") influences syllable weight.
• Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly alter syllable boundaries, but the core division remains consistent.

Short Analysis:

"Counter-revolutionary" is an adjective (and sometimes a noun) derived from Latin and French roots. It is divided into eight syllables: coun-ter-rev-o-lu-tion-ar-y, with primary stress on the penultimate syllable ('lu'). The syllabification follows standard English rules, prioritizing vowel sounds and morphemic boundaries. It shares similar syllable structures with words like "revolutionary" and "evolutionary".