Hyphenation ofimperturbability

Linguistic Analysis of "imperturbability"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "imperturbability" is pronounced /ɪmˌpɜːr.tʃəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ (General American English). It presents challenges due to its length, multiple morphemes, and potential for varying stress patterns depending on context.

2. Syllable Division:

im-per-tur-ba-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: im- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
• Root: perturb- (Latin, perturbare - to disturb, agitate) - Core meaning of disturbance.
• Suffix: -ability (Latin, -abilitas) - Forms abstract nouns denoting capability or state of being.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /ɪmˌpɜːr.tʃəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/. Secondary stress is present on the first syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪmˌpɜːr.tʃəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-tur-" can sometimes be a point of syllabification ambiguity, but in this case, it's clearly separated due to the following consonant cluster. The final "-ity" is a common suffix and generally forms its own syllable.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Imperturbability" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if it were to function as another part of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of being unperturbed; calmness, composure.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: composure, equanimity, serenity, placidity
• Antonyms: agitation, disturbance, turmoil, anxiety
• Examples: "Her imperturbability in the face of danger was remarkable." "He maintained an air of imperturbability throughout the crisis."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Probability: im-prob-a-bil-i-ty - Similar structure, stress on the third syllable.
• Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty - Similar structure, stress on the third syllable.
• Vulnerability: vul-ner-a-bil-i-ty - Similar structure, stress on the third syllable.

All three words share the "-ability" suffix and a similar stress pattern. The differences in initial syllables are due to the different root morphemes. The consistent stress on the antepenultimate syllable in all these words highlights a common pattern in English words ending in "-ability".

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant Rule: Syllables are typically divided before a consonant that follows a vowel.
2. Consonant Cluster Rule: When a consonant cluster occurs between vowels, the syllable division usually occurs before the cluster.
3. Vowel Alone Rule: A single vowel constitutes a syllable.

Special Considerations:

• The length of the word and the presence of multiple morphemes make it a complex case for syllabification.
• Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly alter the stress pattern, but the core syllabification remains consistent.
• The word's morphological complexity (prefix, root, suffix) influences the natural syllable breaks.

Short Analysis:

"Imperturbability" is a seven-syllable word (im-per-tur-ba-bil-i-ty) with primary stress on the third syllable. It's derived from Latin roots and suffixes, and its syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and morphemic boundaries. It functions as a noun denoting a state of calmness.