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Hyphenation ofincomprehensiveness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

in-com-pre-hen-si-ve-ness

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

/ˌɪnkɑmprɪˈhen.sɪv.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0010001

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('hen'). The stress pattern reflects the length and complexity of the word, adhering to typical English stress rules.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

in/ɪn/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

com/kɑm/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

pre/prɪ/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

hen/ˈhen/

Stressed, open syllable, primary stress.

si/sɪ/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

ve/vɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

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

Prefix: in-

Latin origin, negation.

Root: comprehend

Latin origin, to grasp entirely.

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 not being comprehensible; lack of understanding.

Examples:

"The incomprehensiveness of the legal jargon frustrated the defendant."

"His explanation was marked by a frustrating incomprehensiveness."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

comprehensioncom-pre-hen-sion

Shares the root 'comprehend' and similar syllable structure.

responsivenessre-spon-si-ve-ness

Shares the suffix '-ness' and a similar overall structure.

extensivenessex-ten-si-ve-ness

Shares the suffix '-ness' and a similar overall structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

V-C Division

Syllables are divided between vowels and consonants, prioritizing keeping consonant clusters intact.

Stress Rule

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('hen') due to the length and complexity of the word, following general English stress patterns.

Special Considerations

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

The word's length and multiple morphemes make it a complex case, but the syllabification follows standard English rules without significant exceptions.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Incomprehensiveness is a seven-syllable noun (in-com-pre-hen-si-ve-ness) with primary stress on 'hen'. It's formed from the prefix 'in-', root 'comprehend', and suffix '-ness'. Syllabification follows V-C division rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "incomprehensiveness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "incomprehensiveness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English is generally considered to be /ˌɪnkɑmprɪˈhen.sɪv.nəs/. The stress falls on the third syllable ("hen").

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: in- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
  • Root: comprehend (Latin comprehendere - to grasp entirely) - To understand.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes from *-nessu) - Forms a noun denoting a state or quality.
  • Suffix: -ive (Latin -ivus) - Adjective forming suffix.
  • Suffix: -hen (part of comprehend) - part of the root.
  • Suffix: -s (English) - pluralization or possessive, in this case part of the root.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: "hen" in "comprehensiveness".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌɪnkɑmprɪˈhen.sɪv.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The word is relatively straightforward in its syllabification, following typical English patterns. However, the length and complexity can lead to some variation in perceived syllable boundaries, particularly between "pre" and "hen".

7. Grammatical Role:

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

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of not being comprehensible; lack of understanding.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: obscurity, unintelligibility, incomprehensibility, unfathomability
  • Antonyms: comprehensibility, clarity, understandability
  • Examples: "The incomprehensiveness of the legal jargon frustrated the defendant." "His explanation was marked by a frustrating incomprehensiveness."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Comprehension: com-pre-hen-sion - Similar syllable structure, stress on "hen".
  • Responsiveness: re-spon-si-ve-ness - Similar suffix "-ness", stress on "sive".
  • Extensiveness: ex-ten-si-ve-ness - Similar suffix "-ness", stress on "sive".

The syllable division in all these words follows the same V-C-V pattern where possible, and the stress falls on the penultimate syllable before the "-ness" suffix. The differences arise from the initial consonant clusters and vowel qualities.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
in /ɪn/ Closed syllable V-C division None
com /kɑm/ Closed syllable V-C division None
pre /prɪ/ Closed syllable V-C division None
hen /ˈhen/ Stressed, open syllable V-C division, Stress Rule None
si /sɪ/ Closed syllable V-C division None
ve /vɪ/ Open syllable V-C division None
ness /nəs/ Closed syllable V-C division None

Division Rules Applied:

  1. V-C Division: Syllables are divided between vowels and consonants, prioritizing keeping consonant clusters intact.
  2. Stress Rule: Primary stress falls on the third syllable ("hen") due to the length and complexity of the word, following general English stress patterns.

Special Considerations:

The word's length and multiple morphemes make it a complex case. However, the syllabification follows standard English rules without significant exceptions.

Short Analysis:

"Incomprehensiveness" is divided into seven syllables: in-com-pre-hen-si-ve-ness. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ("hen"). The word is composed of the prefix "in-", the root "comprehend", and the suffixes "-ive" and "-ness". It functions as a noun denoting a lack of understanding. Syllabification follows standard V-C division rules.

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

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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.