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Hyphenation ofdorsointercostal

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

dor-so-in-ter-cos-tal

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

/ˌdɔːrsoʊˌɪntərˌkoʊstəl/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

101000

Primary stress on the first syllable ('dor'), secondary stress on the third syllable ('in'), and remaining syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

dor/dɔːr/

Closed syllable, initial stress.

so/soʊ/

Closed syllable, vowel diphthong.

in/ɪn/

Closed syllable, secondary stress.

ter/tər/

Closed syllable.

cos/koʊ/

Closed syllable, vowel diphthong.

tal/təl/

Closed syllable, final syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

dors-(prefix)
+
intercost-(root)
+
-al(suffix)

Prefix: dors-

Latin origin, meaning 'back'

Root: intercost-

Latin origin, meaning 'between the ribs'

Suffix: -al

Latin origin, forms an adjective

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Relating to the area on the back between the ribs.

Examples:

"The patient complained of pain in the dorsointercostal region."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

multilateralmul-ti-la-te-ral

Similar CVC syllable structure and stress pattern.

bilateralbi-la-te-ral

Similar CVC syllable structure and stress pattern.

unilateralu-ni-la-te-ral

Similar CVC syllable structure and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Maximize Onsets

Consonants are generally assigned to the following vowel to create maximal onsets.

CV(C) Structure

Syllables generally follow a Consonant-Vowel (and optional Consonant) structure.

Special Considerations

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

The word's length and complex morphology contribute to its syllabification.

Regional accents may affect vowel quality but not syllable boundaries.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'dorsointercostal' is divided into six syllables based on maximizing onsets and adhering to the CV(C) structure. Primary stress falls on the first syllable, with secondary stress on the third. It's a complex adjective of Latin origin, describing a specific anatomical region.

Detailed Analysis:

1. IPA Transcription: /ˌdɔːrsoʊˌɪntərˌkoʊstəl/

2. Morphemic Breakdown:

  • Prefix: dors-, from Latin dorsum meaning "back". Function: Indicates position on the back.
  • Root: intercost-, from Latin intercostalis meaning "between the ribs". Function: Core meaning relating to the spaces between ribs.
  • Suffix: -al, from Latin -alis. Function: Forms an adjective.

3. Stressed Syllables: Primary stress falls on the third syllable: inter. Secondary stress on the first syllable: dorso.

4. Syllables List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

  • dor /dɔːr/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant-Vowel (CV) structure. No exceptions.
  • so /soʊ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: CV structure. No exceptions.
  • in /ɪn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: CV structure. No exceptions.
  • ter /tər/ - Closed syllable. Rule: CVC structure. No exceptions.
  • cos /koʊ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: CV structure. No exceptions.
  • tal /təl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: CVC structure. No exceptions.

5. Syllable Division Rule Explanations:

The primary rule applied is the principle of maximizing onsets. This means consonants are generally assigned to the following vowel. Where consonant clusters occur, they are broken up based on sonority hierarchy (sonority = how much air is involved in the sound). In this word, the syllable divisions largely follow the CV(C) pattern.

6. Exceptions/Special Cases (per syllable):

No significant exceptions within individual syllables. The diphthong /oʊ/ in "so" and "cos" is a standard English feature.

7. Exceptions/Special Cases (word-level):

The length of the word and the presence of multiple morphemes contribute to the complexity. The secondary stress is a common feature in longer words.

8. Grammatical Role & Syllabification/Stress Shifts:

"Dorsointercostal" primarily functions as an adjective. As an adjective, the stress pattern remains consistent. It doesn't readily function as other parts of speech.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Relating to the area on the back between the ribs.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: None readily available; it's a highly specific anatomical term.
  • Antonyms: None applicable.
  • Examples: "The patient complained of pain in the dorsointercostal region."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables (e.g., /ˌdɔːrsəˌɪntərˌkoʊstəl/), but the core syllable division remains the same. Regional accents might affect vowel quality but not syllable boundaries.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • Multilateral: mul-ti-la-te-ral - Similar CVC structure, stress on the third syllable.
  • Bilateral: bi-la-te-ral - Similar CVC structure, stress on the third syllable.
  • Unilateral: u-ni-la-te-ral - Similar CVC structure, stress on the third syllable.

These words share a similar pattern of alternating consonant-vowel structures and stress on the antepenultimate syllable. The difference lies in the specific consonant and vowel sounds, and the prefixes/roots used. "Dorsointercostal" is longer and more complex due to its anatomical origin.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/22/2025

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