Hyphenation ofincommunicativeness

Linguistic Analysis of "incommunicativeness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "incommunicativeness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a relatively straightforward application of English phonological rules, though the length and number of syllables present challenges.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and avoiding stranded consonants, is as follows (using only original letters):

in-com-mu-ni-ca-tive-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: in- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
• Root: communic- (Latin communicare, "to share, impart") - The core meaning of conveying information.
• Suffix: -ative (Latin, forming adjectives) - Creates an adjective meaning "having the quality of."
• Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes) - Forms a noun denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: ca-. The stress pattern is largely determined by the length of the word and the presence of multiple suffixes.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪn.kəˈmjuː.nɪ.keɪ.tɪv.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-tive-ness" is a common but lengthy suffix cluster. Syllabification could potentially be debated between "tive-ness" or "ti-ve-ness", but "tive-ness" is more common and aligns with maximizing onsets.

7. Grammatical Role:

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

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The state or quality of not being communicative; unresponsiveness or a lack of willingness to share thoughts or feelings.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: taciturnity, reticence, uncommunicativeness, aloofness, reserve.
• Antonyms: communicativeness, loquacity, garrulity, openness.
• Examples: "His incommunicativeness made it difficult to understand his feelings." "The patient's incommunicativeness was a concern for the doctors."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Communicable: com-mu-ni-ca-ble. Shares the root "communic-". Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Activeness: ac-tive-ness. Similar suffix structure (-ive-ness). Stress falls on the second syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the varying number of syllables preceding the stressed syllable and the overall rhythmic structure of each word. "Incommunicativeness" has a longer prefix and more syllables overall, shifting the stress further along.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Onset Maximization: Attempt to include as many consonants as possible in the onset of a syllable.
2. Vowel-Consonant Division: When a vowel is followed by a consonant, the syllable is typically divided before the consonant.
3. Avoid Stranded Consonants: Avoid leaving a single consonant at the end of a syllable unless it's part of a consonant cluster.

Special Considerations:

The length of the word and the multiple suffixes create a complex syllabic structure. The division "tive-ness" is preferred over "ti-ve-ness" due to the principle of maximizing onsets and the common occurrence of the "tive" unit.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables (e.g., /kə/ instead of /kəm/). This would not significantly alter the syllable division.

Short Analysis:

"Incommunicativeness" is a seven-syllable noun derived from Latin roots. It's divided as in-com-mu-ni-ca-tive-ness, with primary stress on the fifth syllable (ca-). The word's structure reflects its complex morphology, combining a negative prefix, a root denoting communication, and two suffixes indicating a state or quality.