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Hyphenation ofhypersensitivity

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

hy-per-sen-si-ti-vi-ty

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

/ˌhaɪpərˌsɛnsɪˈtɪvɪti/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0100101

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable (/ˈtɪvɪti/). Secondary stress falls on the first syllable (/haɪ/). The remaining syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

hy/haɪ/

Open syllable, diphthong.

per/pər/

Open syllable.

sen/sɛn/

Open syllable.

si/sɪ/

Closed syllable.

ti/tɪ/

Closed syllable.

vi/vɪ/

Open syllable.

ty/ti/

Closed syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

hyper-(prefix)
+
sens-(root)
+
-ivity(suffix)

Prefix: hyper-

Greek origin, meaning 'over,' 'above,' or 'excessive'. Degree/intensity modifier.

Root: sens-

Latin origin (sensus), meaning 'sense,' 'feeling,' or 'perception'. Core meaning relating to perception.

Suffix: -ivity

Latin origin (-itas), forming a noun denoting a state or quality.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

An exaggerated or overreaction of the senses or the nervous system.

Examples:

"She suffered from a hypersensitivity to light."

"The patient exhibited a hypersensitivity to certain medications."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

sensitivitysen-si-ti-vi-ty

Shares the root 'sens-' and the suffix '-ivity', differing only by the prefix.

responsibilityre-spon-si-bi-li-ty

Shares the suffix '-ity' and a similar syllable count, but differs in root and stress pattern.

activityac-ti-vi-ty

Shares the suffix '-ity'. Shorter and simpler syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant (VC) Division

Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.

Root Identification

The presence of recognizable morphemes (like 'sens-') guides syllable division.

Stress Pattern

The stress pattern influences the perceived grouping of syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The word's length and the combination of prefixes and suffixes create a complex structure. The stress pattern is crucial for correct pronunciation.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Hypersensitivity is a seven-syllable noun with primary stress on the penultimate syllable. It's formed from the Greek prefix 'hyper-', the Latin root 'sens-', and the suffix '-ivity'. Syllable division follows vowel-consonant patterns, guided by morphemic boundaries and stress.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "hypersensitivity"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "hypersensitivity" is pronounced /ˌhaɪpərˌsɛnsɪˈtɪvɪti/ in US English. It features multiple syllables and a complex stress pattern.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: hy-per-sen-si-ti-vi-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: hyper- (Greek origin, meaning "over," "above," or "excessive") - morphological function: degree/intensity modifier.
  • Root: sens- (Latin origin, from sensus meaning "sense," "feeling," or "perception") - morphological function: core meaning relating to perception.
  • Suffix: -ity (Latin origin, from -itas) - morphological function: nominalization, forming a noun denoting a state or quality.
  • Suffix: -ivity (combination of -i- and -ity) - morphological function: nominalization, forming a noun denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌhaɪpərˌsɛnsɪˈtɪvɪti/. The secondary stress falls on the first syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌhaɪpərˌsɛnsɪˈtɪvɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-si-" before a vowel can sometimes lead to ambiguity in syllable division. However, the presence of the root sens- dictates the division as sen-si- rather than s-si-.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Hypersensitivity" primarily functions as a noun. While it can be used attributively (e.g., "hypersensitivity reactions"), the core syllabification remains consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: An exaggerated or overreaction of the senses or the nervous system.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: oversensitivity, heightened sensitivity, acute sensitivity
  • Antonyms: apathy, indifference, insensitivity
  • Examples:
    • "She suffered from a hypersensitivity to light."
    • "The patient exhibited a hypersensitivity to certain medications."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Sensitivity: sen-si-ti-vi-ty - Similar structure, differing only by the hyper- prefix. Stress pattern is also similar.
  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bi-li-ty - Shares the -ity suffix and a similar syllable count. Stress pattern differs.
  • Activity: ac-ti-vi-ty - Shares the -ity suffix. Shorter and simpler syllable structure.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Division Rule Exceptions/Special Cases
hy- /haɪ/ Open syllable, diphthong Vowel followed by consonant None
per- /pər/ Open syllable Vowel followed by consonant None
sen- /sɛn/ Open syllable Vowel followed by consonant None
si- /sɪ/ Closed syllable Vowel followed by consonant Potential ambiguity, resolved by root identification
ti- /tɪ/ Closed syllable Vowel followed by consonant None
vi- /vɪ/ Open syllable Vowel followed by consonant None
ty /ti/ Closed syllable Vowel followed by consonant None

Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):

The word's length and the combination of prefixes and suffixes create a complex structure. The stress pattern is crucial for correct pronunciation.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Consonant (VC) Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.
  2. Root Identification: The presence of recognizable morphemes (like sens-) guides syllable division.
  3. Stress Pattern: The stress pattern influences the perceived grouping of syllables.

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Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/13/2025

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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.