Hyphenation ofcounterrevolutionary

Analysis of "counterrevolutionary"

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 sequence "-er-" can sometimes form a weak syllable, but in this case, it's part of a larger stressed syllable. The 'r' is rhotic, typical of US English.

7. Grammatical Role: "Counterrevolutionary" 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, Noun
• Synonyms: reactionary, conservative (in a political context)
• Antonyms: revolutionary, progressive
• Examples: "The counterrevolutionary forces attempted to overthrow the government." "He was labeled a counterrevolutionary by the new regime."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• revolutionary: rev-o-lu-tion-ar-y. Similar syllable structure, stress on the penultimate syllable. The addition of "counter-" adds initial syllables.
• evolutionary: e-vo-lu-tion-ar-y. Similar syllable structure, stress on the penultimate syllable. Shares the "-lutionary" ending.
• stationary: sta-tion-ar-y. Different syllable structure, but shares the "-ary" suffix. Stress on the second syllable.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

• coun-: /kaʊn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant blend. Potential exception: The 'ou' diphthong can sometimes be considered a complex nucleus.
• -ter-: /tər/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
• -rev-: /rev/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
• -o-: /ə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Single vowel constitutes a syllable.
• -lu-: /luː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
• -tion-: /ʃən/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant blend.
• -ar-: /ər/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
• -y: /i/ - Open syllable. Rule: Single vowel constitutes a syllable.

Exceptions/Special Cases:

• The 'r' in "-ter-" and "-ar-" is a rhotic 'r', common in US English, influencing the vowel quality.
• The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables (e.g., the 'o' in "-o-") is a common phonological process.

Division Rules:

• Vowel Rule: Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.
• Consonant Blend Rule: Consonant blends are typically kept together within a syllable.
• Closed Syllable Rule: A syllable ending in a consonant is considered closed.
• Open Syllable Rule: A syllable ending in a vowel is considered open.

Special Considerations:

• The word's length and complex morphology can lead to variations in perceived syllable boundaries, but the above division adheres to standard phonological principles.
• Regional accents might influence vowel pronunciation and potentially syllable timing.

Short Analysis:

"Counterrevolutionary" is a seven-syllable word (coun-ter-rev-o-lu-tion-ar-y) with primary stress on the penultimate syllable. It's morphologically complex, built from the prefix "counter-", the root "revolution", and the suffix "-ary". The syllable division follows standard vowel and consonant rules, with considerations for rhoticity and vowel reduction.