HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofcounterexpostulation

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

coun-ter-ex-pos-tu-la-tion

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/ˌkaʊntərˌɛkspɒstʃuˈleɪʃən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0 1 0 0 0 1 0

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable '-la-'. The stress pattern is typical for words of this length and complexity.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

coun/kaʊn/

Open syllable, vowel sound followed by nasal consonant.

ter/tər/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster ending in a schwa.

ex/ɛks/

Closed syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant cluster.

pos/pɒs/

Closed syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant cluster.

tu/tu/

Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant.

la/leɪ/

Open syllable, diphthong.

tion/ʃən/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster ending in schwa.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

counter-(prefix)
+
postulate(root)
+
ex-tion(suffix)

Prefix: counter-

Latin origin, meaning 'against' or 'opposite', creates oppositional meaning.

Root: postulate

Latin origin, meaning 'to demand, assert', core meaning of asserting or claiming.

Suffix: ex-tion

Latin origins, 'ex-' intensifier, '-tion' forms a noun from a verb.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A reasoned argument or protest made in opposition to a previous statement or belief.

Examples:

"His counterexpostulation was met with further evidence."

"She offered a detailed counterexpostulation to the claims made in the report."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

communicationcom-mu-ni-ca-tion

Similar syllable structure with alternating consonant-vowel patterns and stress on the penultimate syllable.

investigationin-ves-ti-ga-tion

Similar suffix '-tion' and stress pattern.

demonstrationdem-on-stra-tion

Similar syllable structure and stress pattern. Differences lie in the complexity of the initial consonant clusters.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Peak Principle

Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.

Onset Maximization

Syllables prefer to have as many consonants as possible in the onset (beginning).

Coda Maximization

Syllables prefer to have as many consonants as possible in the coda (end).

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are divided according to phonotactic constraints.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

The length of the word and the presence of the 'ex' infix create a complex structure, but the syllabification follows standard rules.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Counterexpostulation is a seven-syllable noun (coun-ter-ex-pos-tu-la-tion) with primary stress on '-la-'. It's formed from Latin roots and follows standard English syllabification rules based on vowel peaks and maximizing onsets/codas.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "counterexpostulation"

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

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants, is: coun-ter-ex-pos-tu-la-tion.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: counter- (Latin, meaning "against" or "opposite") - Function: Creates an oppositional meaning.
  • Root: postulate (Latin postulatum, past participle of postulare meaning "to demand, assert") - Function: Core meaning of asserting or claiming.
  • Suffix: -ex- (Latin ex- meaning "out of, from") - Function: Intensifier, often used with verbs.
  • Suffix: -tion (Latin -tio, -sionem denoting action or state) - Function: Forms a noun from a verb.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌkaʊntərˌɛkspɒstʃuˈleɪʃən/. Specifically, on the syllable "-la-".

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌkaʊntərˌɛkspɒstʃuˈleɪʃən/

6. Edge Case Review: This word is complex due to its length and multiple morphemes. Syllabification relies heavily on vowel sounds and consonant clusters. The 'ex' infix is a less common element, but follows established patterns.

7. Grammatical Role: The word functions solely as a noun. There are no significant syllabification or stress shifts for other parts of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A reasoned argument or protest made in opposition to a previous statement or belief.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: rebuttal, refutation, contradiction, objection
  • Antonyms: affirmation, confirmation, endorsement
  • Examples: "His counterexpostulation was met with further evidence." "She offered a detailed counterexpostulation to the claims made in the report."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • communication: com-mu-ni-ca-tion - Similar syllable structure with alternating consonant-vowel patterns. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • investigation: in-ves-ti-ga-tion - Similar suffix '-tion' and stress pattern.
  • demonstration: dem-on-stra-tion - Similar syllable structure and stress pattern. The difference lies in the complexity of the initial consonant clusters. "Counterexpostulation" has a more complex initial cluster ("count-") than the others.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
coun /kaʊn/ Open syllable, vowel sound followed by nasal consonant. Vowel Peak Principle, Onset Maximization None
ter /tər/ Closed syllable, consonant cluster ending in a schwa. Consonant Cluster Rule, Coda Maximization None
ex /ɛks/ Closed syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant cluster. Vowel Peak Principle, Onset Maximization None
pos /pɒs/ Closed syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant cluster. Vowel Peak Principle, Onset Maximization None
tu /tu/ Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant. Vowel Peak Principle, Onset Maximization None
la /leɪ/ Open syllable, diphthong. Vowel Peak Principle, Onset Maximization None
tion /ʃən/ Closed syllable, consonant cluster ending in schwa. Consonant Cluster Rule, Coda Maximization None

Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level): The length of the word and the presence of the 'ex' infix create a complex structure, but the syllabification follows standard rules.

Division Rules:

  • Vowel Peak Principle: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
  • Onset Maximization: Syllables prefer to have as many consonants as possible in the onset (beginning).
  • Coda Maximization: Syllables prefer to have as many consonants as possible in the coda (end).
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are divided according to phonotactic constraints.

Short Analysis: "Counterexpostulation" is a complex noun with seven syllables divided as coun-ter-ex-pos-tu-la-tion, with primary stress on the penultimate syllable "-la-". It's formed from Latin roots and follows standard English syllabification rules based on vowel peaks and maximizing onsets/codas.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/5/2025

The hottest word splits in English (US)

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.