Hyphenation ofincorrigibilities

Linguistic Analysis of "incorrigibilities"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "incorrigibilities" is pronounced /ɪnˌkɒrɪdʒɪˈbɪlɪtiz/ (General American English). It presents challenges due to its length, multiple suffixes, and potential for vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: in-cor-ri-gi-bi-li-ties.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: in- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
• Root: corrig- (Latin corrigo, meaning "to correct") - The base meaning of the word.
• Suffix: -ible (Latin -bilis, meaning "able to be") - Forms an adjective meaning "capable of being corrected".
• Suffix: -ities (Latin -itates, forming a plural noun) - Creates a plural noun denoting multiple instances of the quality of being uncorrectable.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ɪnˌkɒrɪdʒɪˈbɪlɪtiz/. This follows the general English rule of stressing the second-to-last syllable in words ending in -ity/-ies.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɪnˌkɒrɪdʒɪˈbɪlɪtiz/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-rigi-" could potentially be analyzed as two syllables, but the common pronunciation and the principle of maximizing onsets favor a single syllable. Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is also a key consideration.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Incorrigibilities" functions solely as a plural noun. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Qualities or instances of being impossible to correct or improve.
• Grammatical Category: Noun (plural)
• Synonyms: uncorrectableness, incorrigibleness, flaws, defects
• Antonyms: correctability, amendability, perfectibility
• Examples: "His incorrigibilities were a source of constant frustration." "The system's inherent incorrigibilities made it unusable."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Possibilities: /pɒsɪˈbɪlɪtiz/ - Syllable division: pos-si-bil-i-ties. Similar structure with -ibility suffix. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
• Responsibilities: /rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪlɪtiz/ - Syllable division: re-spon-si-bil-i-ties. Similar structure with -ibility suffix. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
• Credibilities: /krɛdɪˈbɪlɪtiz/ - Syllable division: cre-di-bil-i-ties. Similar structure with -ibility suffix. Stress on the penultimate syllable.

The consistent stress pattern on the penultimate syllable in all these words highlights the influence of the -ity/-ies suffix on stress assignment. The syllable division is also consistent, following the principle of maximizing onsets.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

• Onset-Rime Division: The most fundamental rule, dividing syllables based on the consonant-vowel boundary.
• Maximize Onsets: Consonants are generally assigned to the following vowel to create a valid onset.
• Stress Assignment: Penultimate syllable stress for words ending in -ity/-ies.

Special Considerations:

• The pronunciation of 'g' as /dʒ/ before 'i' is a common phonetic rule in English.
• Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables (e.g., the 'i' in 'bi' and 'li' becoming schwa /ə/ in some pronunciations) is a common phenomenon.
• The word's length and complex morphology require careful application of syllable division rules.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents General American English, some regional variations might exist. For example, some speakers might pronounce the 'r' in "cor" more strongly or reduce the vowel in "ties" to a schwa. These variations would not significantly alter the syllable division.