Hyphenation ofdecentralisation

1. IPA Transcription: /ˌdiːˌsɛn.trə.laɪ.zeɪ.ʃən/

2. Morphemic Breakdown:

• Prefix: de- (Latin, meaning "down from," "away from," or "reversal") - morphological function: negation or reversal.
• Root: central- (Latin centralis, from centrum meaning "center") - morphological function: core meaning relating to a center or central point.
• Suffix: -isation (British English spelling of -ization) (French -isation, from Latin -atio) - morphological function: verb-forming suffix, creating a noun from a verb.

3. Stressed Syllables: Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: /ˌdiːˌsɛn.trə.laɪ.ˈzeɪ.ʃən/

4. Syllables List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

• de- /diː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) generally forms an open syllable. No exceptions.
• cen- /sɛn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) and then a vowel. Exception: The 'c' is pronounced as /s/ due to the following 'e'.
• tra- /trə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by a schwa vowel. No exceptions.
• li- /laɪ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Diphthong followed by a consonant. No exceptions.
• sa- /zeɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No exceptions.
• tion /ʃən/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by a schwa vowel. No exceptions.

5. Syllable Division Rule Explanations:

The primary rule applied is the "Vowel Break" rule, where syllables are generally divided around vowel sounds. Consonant clusters are kept together within a syllable unless they are easily separable by a vowel sound. The presence of diphthongs and schwa vowels also influences syllable division.

6. Potential Exceptions/Special Cases:

The pronunciation of 'c' as /s/ before 'e' is a common exception to the typical 'c' pronunciation. The schwa vowel /ə/ is also a common feature in unstressed syllables and can sometimes lead to ambiguity in syllable division, but in this case, it follows the consonant cluster.

7. Exceptions/Special Cases for the Word as a Whole:

The British vs. American spelling of "-isation" vs. "-ization" doesn't affect the syllabification, only the orthography.

8. Syllabification and Parts of Speech:

"Decentralisation" primarily functions as a noun. If it were used as a verb (e.g., "They are decentralising the system"), the stress pattern might shift slightly, but the syllable division would remain the same.

9. Definition of the Word:

• Word: Decentralisation (US: Decentralization)
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Definitions:
  • The process of transferring power and responsibility from a central authority to local or regional authorities.
  • The act of dispersing or distributing something widely.
• Translation: (N/A - already in English)
• Synonyms: devolution, dispersal, distribution, delegation
• Antonyms: centralization, concentration
• Examples:
  • "The government is committed to decentralisation of power."
  • "Decentralisation of the healthcare system led to improved access in rural areas."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in pronunciation might affect the vowel sounds (e.g., a more open /æ/ in "central" in some American dialects), but the core syllable division would remain consistent.

11. Phonological Comparison with Similar Words:

• Centralisation: de-cen-tral-i-sa-tion. Syllable division is very similar, reflecting the shared root "central".
• Organisation: or-gan-i-sa-tion. Similar ending "-isation" leads to the same final syllable division.
• Specialisation: spe-cial-i-sa-tion. Again, the "-isation" suffix dictates the final syllable structure.

The consistency in syllable division across these words demonstrates the application of the same phonological rules, particularly regarding vowel breaks and the handling of the "-isation" suffix. The differences arise from the initial consonant clusters and vowel sounds in the prefixes and roots.