Hyphenation ofcounterproductive

Analysis of "counterproductive"

1. Pronunciation: The word "counterproductive" is pronounced /ˌkaʊntərprəˈdʌktɪv/ in US English.

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: coun-ter-pro-duc-tive.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: counter- (from French contre, ultimately from Latin contra meaning "against"). Function: Reverses or opposes the meaning of the base.
• Root: pro- (from Latin pro meaning "for, forward, in favor of"). Function: Indicates support or advancement.
• Root: duc- (from Latin ducere meaning "to lead"). Function: Core meaning related to leading or guiding.
• Suffix: -tive (from Latin -tivus meaning "relating to"). Function: Forms an adjective.
• Suffix: -ive (from Latin -ivus meaning "having the quality of"). Function: Forms an adjective.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the third syllable: pro-duc-tive.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌkaʊntərprəˈdʌktɪv/

6. Edge Case Review: The sequence "-ter-" can sometimes be a point of syllabification ambiguity, but in this case, it's clearly part of the first syllable due to the vowel sound. The "er" is a schwa vowel, and the consonant cluster "nt" is permissible in an onset.

7. Grammatical Role: "Counterproductive" primarily functions as an adjective. While it could theoretically be used attributively as part of a noun phrase, its syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Having the opposite of the desired effect; defeating its own purpose.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: ineffectual, futile, self-defeating, adverse, detrimental
• Antonyms: effective, productive, helpful, beneficial
• Examples:
  • "His attempt to mediate was actually counterproductive."
  • "The new regulations proved to be counterproductive, stifling innovation."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• productive: pro-duc-tive (/prəˈdʌktɪv/) - Similar syllable structure, stress on the final syllable.
• destructive: des-truc-tive (/dɪˈstrʌktɪv/) - Similar syllable structure, stress on the final syllable.
• constructive: con-struc-tive (/kənˈstrʌktɪv/) - Similar syllable structure, stress on the final syllable.

The key difference in "counterproductive" is the addition of the counter- prefix, which creates an initial syllable and shifts the stress pattern slightly, but the core syllable structure of "-pro-duc-tive" remains consistent.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

• Vowel-Following Consonant Rule: Consonants following a vowel generally belong to the following syllable.
• Onset-Coda Rule: Syllables typically have an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a coda (final consonant(s)).

Special Considerations:

• The prefix "counter-" can sometimes be pronounced with a reduced vowel in the first syllable (/ˈkaʊntər/), but the syllabification remains the same.
• Regional variations in vowel pronunciation might affect the precise phonetic realization of the syllables, but not the syllable division.

Short Analysis:

"Counterproductive" is a five-syllable word (coun-ter-pro-duc-tive) with primary stress on the third syllable ("pro-duc-"). It's morphologically complex, built from Latin roots and prefixes. Syllabification follows standard English vowel-following consonant rules. The word functions as an adjective meaning "having the opposite of the desired effect."