Hyphenation ofimpracticability

Linguistic Analysis of "impracticability"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "impracticability" is pronounced /ɪmˈpræktɪkəˈbɪləti/ in US English. It's a relatively complex word with multiple morphemes and a somewhat predictable stress pattern.

2. Syllable Division:

im-prac-ti-ca-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: im- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
• Root: practic (Latin practicus, meaning "practical, skilled") - Relating to practice or action.
• Suffix: -able (Latin -abilis, meaning "capable of") - Forms adjectives indicating capability.
• Suffix: -ity (Latin -itas, meaning "state or quality of") - Forms abstract nouns denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /ɪmˈpræktɪkəˈbɪləti/. A secondary stress appears on the fifth syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪmˈpræktɪkəˈbɪləti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "ti" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, it clearly forms a syllable on its own due to the vowel sound. The "bil" sequence is also a common syllable structure.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Impracticability" 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 impractical; the impossibility of being done or put into practice.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: unfeasibility, impossibility, unworkability
• Antonyms: practicality, feasibility
• Examples: "The sheer impracticability of the plan led to its immediate rejection." "He pointed out the impracticability of building a bridge across the chasm."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Probability: pro-ba-bil-i-ty (5 syllables) - Similar suffix -ity, stress pattern is also similar.
• Practicality: prac-ti-cal-i-ty (5 syllables) - Shares the root practic, similar suffix, and stress pattern.
• Applicability: ap-pli-ca-bil-i-ty (6 syllables) - Similar suffix -ity, but a different root and one additional syllable.

The syllable division in "impracticability" is consistent with these similar words, demonstrating the regular application of syllable division rules based on vowel sounds and consonant clusters. The addition of the 'im-' prefix in 'impracticability' adds one syllable compared to 'practicality' and 'applicability'.

10. Division Rules:

• Vowel Rule: Each syllable must contain at least one vowel sound.
• Onset-Rime Rule: Syllables are structured around an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a rime (vowel and any following consonants).
• Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally split to maintain syllable structure, but certain clusters remain intact.
• Prefix/Suffix Rule: Prefixes and suffixes often form separate syllables.

11. Special Considerations:

The prefix "im-" is often treated as a separate syllable, even though it doesn't contain a vowel in its written form. This is due to the phonetic realization of the vowel sound in the following syllable.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents the most common US English pronunciation, slight variations may occur in different regional accents. These variations are unlikely to significantly alter the syllable division.

13. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

• im: /ɪm/ - Open syllable, onset 'ɪ', coda 'm'.
• prac: /præk/ - Closed syllable, onset 'pr', rime 'æk'.
• ti: /tɪ/ - Closed syllable, onset 't', rime 'ɪ'.
• ca: /kə/ - Open syllable, onset 'k', rime 'ə'.
• bil: /bɪl/ - Closed syllable, onset 'b', rime 'ɪl'.
• i: /ɪ/ - Open syllable, onset null, rime 'ɪ'.
• ty: /ti/ - Closed syllable, onset 't', rime 'i'.