Hyphenation ofincomprehensibility

Linguistic Analysis of "incomprehensibility"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "incomprehensibility" is a complex noun in US English, exhibiting multiple morphemes and a relatively long phonetic structure. Its pronunciation involves several consonant clusters and vowel reductions, typical of words derived from Latin.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and respecting vowel sounds, is as follows: in-com-pre-hen-si-bil-i-ty.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: in- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
• Root: comprehend (Latin comprehendere - to grasp entirely) - To understand.
• Suffixes:
  • -en- (Latin, intensifying) - Forms a verb from the root.
  • -sible (Latin abilis - capable of) - Adjectival suffix indicating capability.
  • -ity (Latin itas - quality of) - Nominalizing suffix, forming a noun denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: hen. The stress pattern is crucial for distinguishing the word and its meaning.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌɪnˌkɑmprɪˈhen.sɪ.bɪl.ɪ.ti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The word presents a challenge due to the multiple consonant clusters (e.g., compr, hens, bil). Syllabification rules prioritize keeping consonant blends within a syllable when possible.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Incomprehensibility" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if the word were to take on a different grammatical role, as it is non-inflectable.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of being impossible to understand.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: obscurity, unintelligibility, unfathomability
• Antonyms: comprehensibility, clarity, understandability
• Example Usage: "The complexity of the philosophical argument led to its utter incomprehensibility for most students."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: /rɪˌspɑn.səˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ - Similar suffix -ibility and stress pattern.
• Comprehension: /ˌkɑmprɪˈhen.ʃən/ - Shares the root comprehend and similar initial syllable structure.
• Accessibility: /ˌæk.sɛs.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ - Similar suffix -ibility and overall syllable structure.

The differences in syllable division arise from the initial consonant clusters and vowel sounds. "Responsibility" and "Accessibility" have simpler onsets, while "comprehension" shares the root and thus a similar initial syllable structure.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel Nucleus Rule: Every syllable must have a vowel sound.
2. Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters are generally kept together in the onset of a syllable.
3. Coda Preference: Syllables tend to avoid overly complex codas (consonant clusters at the end of a syllable).
4. Stress Assignment Rules: Stress is assigned based on morphological structure and phonological weight.

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology make it prone to mispronunciation and varying syllabification attempts. Regional accents might influence vowel reduction and stress placement.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "in-" to /ən/, leading to a slightly different phonetic realization.