Hyphenation ofincomprehensible
Syllable Division:
in-com-pre-hen-si-ble
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌɪnkɑmprɪˈhɛnsɪbl̩/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
001000
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('hen'). The first syllable is unstressed, and the remaining syllables are also unstressed.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Closed syllable, initial syllable.
Closed syllable.
Open syllable.
Closed syllable, primary stressed syllable.
Closed syllable, weak syllable.
Coda syllable with syllabic consonant.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: in-
Latin origin, negation.
Root: comprehend
Latin origin, to grasp entirely.
Suffix: -ible
Latin origin, adjective-forming suffix meaning 'capable of being'.
Not capable of being understood.
Examples:
"The lecture was completely incomprehensible to the students."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar prefix and suffix structure.
Shares the '-ible' suffix and similar stress pattern.
Shares the root 'comprehend' and similar syllable structure.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel-Consonant (VC) Rule
Syllables generally end in a vowel sound. Consonants following a vowel are grouped with that vowel.
Consonant Cluster Rule
Consonant clusters are divided based on sonority.
Stress Assignment Rule
Stress typically falls on the penultimate syllable in words of Latin origin, but can be influenced by morphological structure.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The syllabic /l/ in 'ble' affects syllable count.
Regional variations in pronunciation might lead to slight differences in syllable division.
The weak syllable 'si' is prone to reduction.
Summary:
The word 'incomprehensible' is divided into seven syllables (in-com-pre-hen-si-ble) with primary stress on 'hen'. It's morphologically complex, built from a Latin prefix, root, and suffix, and functions as an adjective meaning 'not understandable'.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "incomprehensible"
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "incomprehensible" is pronounced /ˌɪnkɑmprɪˈhɛnsɪbl̩/ (General American English). It presents challenges due to its length, multiple vowels, and consonant clusters.
2. Syllable Division:
The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: in-com-pre-hen-si-ble
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: in- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
- Root: comprehend (Latin comprehendere - to grasp entirely) - To understand.
- Suffix: -ible (Latin -ibilis) - Adjective-forming suffix, meaning "capable of being."
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the third syllable: hen. The phonetic transcription reflects this with the 'ˈ' symbol.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˌɪnkɑmprɪˈhɛnsɪbl̩/
6. Edge Case Review:
The syllable "si" is a weak syllable and can be reduced to /sɪ/ or even /ʃ/ in rapid speech. The final "-ble" can be syllabified as a separate syllable or attached to the preceding syllable depending on the speaker and rate of speech.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Incomprehensible" primarily functions as an adjective. Its syllabification and stress pattern remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence. It does not have alternate parts of speech that would significantly alter its syllabification.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: Not capable of being understood.
- Grammatical Category: Adjective
- Synonyms: Unintelligible, obscure, baffling, perplexing.
- Antonyms: Comprehensible, understandable, clear, lucid.
- Example Usage: "The lecture was completely incomprehensible to the students."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- Impossible: im-pos-si-ble. Similar structure with a prefix and suffix. Stress on the third syllable.
- Responsible: re-spon-si-ble. Similar suffix "-ible" and stress pattern.
- Comprehensive: com-pre-hen-sive. Shares the root "comprehend" and similar syllable structure, though lacking the initial "in-" prefix.
Detailed Syllable Analysis:
| Syllable | IPA Transcription | Description | Rule Applied | Exceptions/Special Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in | /ɪn/ | Closed syllable | Vowel + Consonant cluster | None |
| com | /kɑm/ | Closed syllable | Vowel + Consonant cluster | None |
| pre | /prɛ/ | Open syllable | Vowel + Consonant | None |
| hen | /hɛn/ | Closed syllable, stressed | Vowel + Consonant cluster | Primary stress |
| si | /sɪ/ | Closed syllable, weak | Vowel + Consonant | Syllable reduction possible |
| ble | /bl̩/ | Coda syllable | Consonant cluster + syllabic consonant | Syllabic /l/ |
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel-Consonant (VC) Rule: Syllables generally end in a vowel sound. Consonants following a vowel are typically grouped with that vowel to form a syllable.
- Consonant Cluster Rule: When consonant clusters occur, they are often divided based on sonority (ease of articulation).
- Stress Assignment Rule: Stress typically falls on the penultimate syllable in words of Latin origin, but can be influenced by morphological structure.
Special Considerations:
- The syllabic /l/ in "ble" is a common feature in English and affects the syllable count.
- Regional variations in pronunciation might lead to slight differences in syllable division, particularly with the weak syllable "si".
- The word's length and complex morphology require careful application of syllable division rules.
Short Analysis:
"Incomprehensible" is a seven-syllable word (in-com-pre-hen-si-ble) with primary stress on the third syllable ("hen"). It's built from the prefix "in-", the root "comprehend", and the suffix "-ible". Its syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and stress assignment. The word functions as an adjective meaning "not understandable".
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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.