Hyphenation ofimperfectability

Linguistic Analysis of "imperfectability"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "imperfectability" is pronounced /ɪmˈpɜːrfɛktəˈbɪlɪti/ (General American English). It presents challenges due to its length and multiple suffixes.

2. Syllable Division:

im-per-fec-ta-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: im- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
• Root: perfect (Latin, perfectus, meaning "completed, finished") - Adjective denoting completeness.
• Suffix: -able (Latin, -abilis) - Adjectival suffix, meaning "capable of being".
• Suffix: -ity (Latin, -itas) - Noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /ɪmˈpɜːrfɛktəˈbɪlɪti/. A secondary stress appears on the penultimate syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪmˈpɜːrfɛktəˈbɪlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-ect-" can sometimes lead to ambiguity in syllabification, but in this case, the vowel sound clearly separates "fec" as a syllable. The "-abil-" sequence is a common pattern and follows standard syllabification rules.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Imperfectability" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress based on grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of being imperfect; the capacity for being imperfect.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: flawfulness, imperfection, incompleteness
• Antonyms: perfection, completeness
• Examples: "The imperfectability of human nature is a constant source of philosophical debate."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• possibility: pos-si-bil-i-ty - Similar structure with "-ibility" suffix. Stress pattern is also comparable.
• responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Again, shares the "-ibility" suffix and a similar stress pattern.
• perfectibility: per-fec-ti-bil-i-ty - Closely related, differing only in the initial prefix. Syllabification is nearly identical.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):

The length of the word and the multiple suffixes require careful application of syllabification rules. The vowel sounds within the suffixes are key to determining the syllable boundaries.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Onset-Rime Division: Syllables are divided between the onset (initial consonants) and the rime (vowel and following consonants).
2. Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are often divided after vowels, especially when followed by consonants.
3. Consonant Cluster Division: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable, unless a vowel intervenes.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllabification. Regional accents might affect vowel quality, but not syllable boundaries.