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Hyphenation ofincommensurateness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

in-com-men-su-ra-te-ness

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

/ɪnˌkɑːmənsˈʊrətnes/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

010111

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('sur'). Secondary stress on the first syllable ('in').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

in/ɪn/

Closed syllable, initial syllable.

com/kɑːm/

Closed syllable, contains a diphthong.

men/mɛn/

Closed syllable, vowel sound is /ɛ/.

su/sʊ/

Closed syllable, reduced vowel sound.

ra/rə/

Open syllable, schwa vowel.

te/teɪ/

Open syllable, diphthong.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, final syllable, contains schwa.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

in-(prefix)
+
commensurat-(root)
+
-ness(suffix)

Prefix: in-

Latin origin, negation.

Root: commensurat-

Latin origin, relating to a common measure.

Suffix: -ness

Old English origin, forms a noun denoting a state or quality.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of being immeasurable or incomparable; lacking a common standard of measurement.

Examples:

"The incommensurateness of their experiences made meaningful dialogue impossible."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

incomparabilityin-com-pa-ra-bi-li-ty

Shares the 'in-' prefix and a similar suffix structure.

commensurablecom-men-su-ra-ble

Shares the root 'commensur-'.

immeasurableim-meas-u-ra-ble

Shares a similar prefix structure ('im-' vs. 'in-') and root structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Consonant-Vowel (CV) Pattern

Syllables are generally formed around vowel sounds, with consonants preceding or following them.

Avoid Breaking Affixes

Prefixes and suffixes are generally kept intact within a syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The length of the word and the presence of multiple morphemes contribute to its complexity.

The stress pattern is crucial for correct pronunciation.

Potential for slight vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'incommensurateness' is divided into seven syllables: in-com-men-su-ra-te-ness. It consists of the prefix 'in-', the root 'commensurat-', and the suffix '-ness'. Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('sur'). Syllabification follows the CV pattern and avoids breaking affixes. It's a complex noun denoting immeasurability.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "incommensurateness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "incommensurateness" is a complex noun, often encountered in academic or philosophical contexts. Its pronunciation in US English is generally /ˈɪnˌkɑːmənsˈʊrətnes/. It presents challenges due to its length and multiple morphemes.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): in-com-men-su-ra-te-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: in- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
  • Root: commensurat- (Latin, commensuratus, past participle of commensurare "to measure together") - Relating to a common measure.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English, -nes) - Forms a noun denoting a state or quality.
  • Internal Component: -ate (Latin) - Verb forming suffix, also present in the root.
  • Internal Component: su- (Latin) - connecting vowel.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /ˌɪnˌkɑːmənsˈʊrətnes/. A secondary stress is present on the first syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪnˌkɑːmənsˈʊrətnes/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-sur-" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, the stress pattern and established pronunciation dictate the division. The presence of multiple suffixes and the length of the word contribute to its complexity.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Incommensurateness" primarily functions as a noun. While theoretically, one could attempt to derive a verb (though rare and awkward), the syllabification and stress remain consistent as the noun form dictates the structure.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of being immeasurable or incomparable; lacking a common standard of measurement.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: incomparability, dissimilarity, heterogeneity, disproportion.
  • Antonyms: comparability, similarity, proportionality.
  • Example Usage: "The incommensurateness of their experiences made meaningful dialogue impossible."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "incomparability": in-com-pa-ra-bi-li-ty. Similar structure with prefix in- and multiple suffixes. Stress on the third syllable.
  • "commensurable": com-men-su-ra-ble. Shares the root commensur- and similar vowel patterns. Stress on the second syllable.
  • "immeasurable": im-meas-u-ra-ble. Similar prefix im- (equivalent to in-) and root structure. Stress on the second syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the varying lengths of the words and the influence of the suffixes. "Incommensurateness" is the longest and most complex, leading to a shift in primary stress.

Syllable Breakdown Details:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
in /ɪn/ Closed syllable Consonant-Vowel (CV) pattern None
com /kɑːm/ Closed syllable CV pattern None
men /mɛn/ Closed syllable CV pattern None
su /sʊ/ Closed syllable CV pattern None
ra /rə/ Open syllable CV pattern None
te /teɪ/ Open syllable CV pattern None
ness /nəs/ Closed syllable CV pattern None

Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Consonant-E Rule: Not applicable here.
  • Consonant-Vowel (CV) Pattern: The primary rule applied. Syllables are generally formed around vowel sounds, with consonants preceding or following them.
  • Avoid Breaking Affixes: Prefixes and suffixes are generally kept intact within a syllable.

Special Considerations:

The length of the word and the presence of multiple morphemes make it a complex case. The stress pattern is crucial for correct pronunciation and understanding.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables, but the core syllabification remains consistent.

</short_analysis>

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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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.