Hyphenation ofholier-than-thou
Syllable Division:
ho-li-er-than-thou
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˈhoʊliər ðæn θaʊ/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
10000
Primary stress falls on the first syllable ('ho'). The remaining syllables are unstressed.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, primary stress.
Open syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Open syllable, unstressed.
Diphthongal syllable, unstressed.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix:
Root: holy
Old English *hālig* - meaning sacred, blessed
Suffix: -er
Germanic origin, denotes comparative degree
Having or showing a feeling of superiority; self-righteous.
Examples:
"He had a holier-than-thou attitude about his charitable work."
"Don't be so holier-than-thou; everyone makes mistakes."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel-Consonant Division
Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound when followed by a consonant.
Open Syllable Rule
Syllables ending in a vowel sound are considered open.
Closed Syllable Rule
Syllables ending in a consonant sound are considered closed.
Diphthong Rule
Diphthongs generally remain within a single syllable.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The hyphenated nature of the phrase requires treating it as a single unit for stress and flow.
Summary:
The phrase 'holier-than-thou' is divided into five syllables: ho-li-er-than-thou. The primary stress falls on the first syllable ('ho'). It functions as an adjective denoting self-righteousness and is morphologically derived from 'holy' with a comparative suffix '-er'.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "holier-than-thou"
1. Pronunciation: The word "holier-than-thou" is pronounced as /ˈhoʊliər ðæn θaʊ/ in General American English.
2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: ho-li-er-than-thou.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- holier: Comparative adjective formed from "holy."
- holy (root): Old English hālig – meaning sacred, blessed.
- -er (suffix): Germanic origin, denotes comparative degree.
- than: Coordinating conjunction. Old English þonne – meaning then, as.
- thou: Pronoun. Old English þū – meaning you (singular, archaic).
4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the first syllable: ho-li-er-than-thou.
5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˈhoʊliər ðæn θaʊ/
6. Edge Case Review: The hyphenated structure presents a slight edge case. While typically hyphenated phrases are treated as separate words for syllabification, here it functions as a single idiomatic unit. The "than" acts as a connector, influencing the stress and flow.
7. Grammatical Role: The phrase functions as an adjective, typically used predicatively. The syllabification remains consistent regardless of its use within a sentence.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: Having or showing a feeling of superiority; self-righteous.
- Grammatical Category: Adjective (predicative)
- Synonyms: sanctimonious, self-righteous, condescending, arrogant, pompous.
- Antonyms: humble, modest, unassuming.
- Examples: "He had a holier-than-thou attitude about his charitable work." "Don't be so holier-than-thou; everyone makes mistakes."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- holier: Similar to "cooler" (ˈkuːlər) – both have a vowel + /l/ + /ər/ structure.
- than: Similar to "pan" (pæn) – both are short, single-syllable words with a vowel followed by a nasal consonant.
- thou: Similar to "now" (naʊ) – both are diphthongal words with a similar vowel glide.
Syllable Breakdown Details:
- ho-: Open syllable, vowel sound /oʊ/. Rule: Vowel sound followed by a consonant. Exception: Initial syllable.
- li-: Open syllable, vowel sound /i/. Rule: Vowel sound followed by a consonant.
- er-: Closed syllable, vowel sound /ər/. Rule: Vowel sound followed by a consonant cluster.
- than-: Open syllable, vowel sound /æn/. Rule: Vowel sound followed by a consonant.
- thou: Diphthongal syllable, vowel sound /aʊ/. Rule: Diphthong followed by a consonant.
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound when followed by a consonant.
- Open Syllable Rule: Syllables ending in a vowel sound are considered open.
- Closed Syllable Rule: Syllables ending in a consonant sound are considered closed.
- Diphthong Rule: Diphthongs generally remain within a single syllable.
Special Considerations: The hyphenated nature of the phrase requires treating it as a single unit for stress and flow, despite the presence of multiple words.
Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: Some regional variations might slightly alter the vowel sounds (e.g., a more open /ɔː/ in "ho"). However, the syllable division remains consistent.
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What is hyphenation
Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.
This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.
With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.