Hyphenation ofdematerialization

Detailed Linguistic Analysis of "dematerialization"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "dematerialization" is pronounced /diˌmætɪriəlɪˈzeɪʃən/ in US English. It's a relatively long word with multiple syllables, posing some challenges in syllabification due to the presence of vowel clusters and consonant blends.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): de-ma-te-ri-al-i-za-tion

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: de- (Latin origin) - Function: Reversal or negation.
• Root: material (Latin materia meaning 'matter') - Function: Core meaning relating to physical substance.
• Suffix: -ization (Greek origin, via French) - Function: Process of becoming; forming a noun from a verb or adjective.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /diˌmætɪriəlɪˈzeɪʃən/. This follows the general rule in English where stress often falls on the second-to-last syllable in words ending in -tion.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/diˌmætɪriəlɪˈzeɪʃən/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "ri-al" could potentially be debated, but the vowel sound is clearly distinct, justifying the syllable break. The "ti" sequence is a common and accepted syllable division.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Dematerialization" primarily functions as a noun. While a verb "dematerialize" exists, the noun form doesn't significantly alter the syllabification or stress pattern.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The process of causing something to disappear or become less substantial; the reduction of material substance.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: Disintegration, dissolution, vanishing, evaporation.
• Antonyms: Materialization, creation, formation.
• Example Usage: "The magician's act involved the dematerialization of his assistant."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Similar Word 1: "materialization": de-ma-te-ri-al-i-za-tion. Syllable structure is identical, confirming the rule application.
• Similar Word 2: "spiritualization": spi-ri-tu-al-i-za-tion. Similar suffix structure (-ization) and vowel-consonant patterns. Stress falls on the penultimate syllable, mirroring "dematerialization".
• Similar Word 3: "demagnetization": de-mag-ne-ti-za-tion. Similar prefix (de-) and suffix (-ization). The syllable division follows the same principles, though the root differs.

10. Division Rules:

• Rule 1: Vowel Rule: Each syllable must contain at least one vowel sound.
• Rule 2: Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally split to maintain pronounceability, but consonant blends (like tr or st) are kept together within a syllable.
• Rule 3: Onset-Rime Rule: Syllables are often divided into an onset (initial consonant sound(s)) and a rime (vowel sound and any following consonants).
• Rule 4: Stress-Timing Rule: English is a stress-timed language, influencing syllable prominence and duration.

11. Special Considerations:

The vowel clusters (e.g., "ia" in "material") are common in English and don't pose significant syllabification challenges. The "tion" ending is a standard suffix and consistently forms a syllable.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents the most common US English pronunciation, slight variations in vowel quality or stress intensity might occur depending on regional accents. These variations wouldn't fundamentally alter the syllable division.