Hyphenation ofincomprehensibly

Linguistic Analysis of "incomprehensibly"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "incomprehensibly" is a complex adverb derived from the adjective "incomprehensible." Its pronunciation in US English involves multiple syllables and a degree of reduction in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: in-com-pre-hen-si-bly

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: in- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
• Root: comprehend (Latin comprehendere - to grasp entirely) - To understand.
• Suffix: -ible (Latin -ibilis) - Capable of, able to be. Forms an adjective.
• Suffix: -ly (English) - Adverbial suffix, modifying the adjective "incomprehensible."

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: hen.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪnˌkɑmprɪˈhɛnsɪbli/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-pre-" can sometimes be a point of syllabification ambiguity, but in this case, the vowel sound clearly separates it. The reduction of vowels in unstressed syllables is a common feature of English pronunciation.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Incomprehensibly" functions solely as an adverb. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its contextual use.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: In a manner that is impossible to understand.
• Grammatical Category: Adverb
• Synonyms: unintelligibly, unfathomably, inexplicably
• Antonyms: comprehensibly, understandably, clearly
• Examples: "The lecture was so complex that it was delivered incomprehensibly."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Impossibly: im-pos-si-bly - Similar syllable structure, stress on the third syllable.
• Unbelievably: un-be-liev-a-bly - Similar prefix and suffix structure, stress on the fourth syllable.
• Understandably: un-der-stand-a-bly - Similar root and suffix structure, stress on the third syllable.

The differences in syllable division are primarily due to the varying lengths and complexities of the root morphemes. "Incomprehensibly" has a longer and more complex root ("comprehend") than the others, leading to more syllables.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant (VC) Pattern: Syllables generally end with a vowel sound. Consonants following vowels typically initiate a new syllable.
2. Stress Rule: Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable, influencing vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

Special Considerations:

• The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables (e.g., /ɪ/ in "in" and "si") is a common feature of English pronunciation.
• The complex morphology of the word requires careful consideration of morpheme boundaries during syllabification.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

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