Hyphenation ofimperfectibility

Linguistic Analysis of "imperfectibility"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "imperfectibility" is pronounced /ɪmˈpɜːrfɛktɪˈbɪlɪti/ (General American English). It presents challenges due to its length and multiple morphemes.

2. Syllable Division:

im-per-fec-ti-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: im- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
• Root: perfect (Latin, perfectus, meaning "completed, finished") - Core meaning of flawlessness.
• Suffix: -ibility (Latin, -bilis + -itas) - Forms abstract nouns denoting capability or quality. Specifically, -ible (capable of being) + -ity (state or quality of).

4. Stress Identification:

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

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪmˈpɜːrfɛktɪˈbɪlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "perf" can sometimes be a point of syllabification debate, but in this case, it's more natural to separate it as "per-fec" due to the vowel sound following the 'r'. The 'l' in 'bil' is often considered part of the following syllable due to its sonority.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Imperfectibility" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context (as it only has one).

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 inherent imperfectibility of human nature is a common theme in literature."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix -ibility leads to comparable syllabification. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Again, the -ibility suffix dictates the final syllables. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Predictability: pre-dic-ta-bil-i-ty - Similar structure, with stress on the third syllable. The initial prefix differs, but the core syllabification pattern remains consistent.

10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

11. Division Rules Applied:

• Onset-Rime: Dividing syllables based on the consonant onset and vowel-containing rime.
• Vowel-Consonant Division: Separating syllables at vowel-consonant boundaries.
• Consonant Cluster Handling: Allowing consonant clusters within syllables.
• Sonority Sequencing Principle: Considering the sonority of consonants when determining syllable boundaries.

12. Special Considerations:

The length of the word and the multiple morphemes contribute to the complexity of its syllabification. The suffix -ibility is a common source of syllabic division, and its consistent application across similar words supports the chosen breakdown.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents General American English, slight variations in vowel pronunciation may occur in different dialects. These variations would not significantly alter the syllable division.