Hyphenation ofinterindependence

Linguistic Analysis of "interindependence" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "interindependence" is pronounced /ˌɪntərɪndɪˈpɛndəns/. It presents challenges due to the multiple morphemes and potential for vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: inter- (Latin, meaning "between" or "among") - functions to change the meaning of the root.
• Root: depend (Latin dependere, meaning "to hang down from") - the core meaning of reliance.
• Suffix: -ence (Latin -entia, forming a noun of state or quality) - transforms the verb "depend" into a noun denoting a state of being dependent.
• Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes, forming a noun from an adjective) - transforms the noun "independence" into a noun denoting a quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third-to-last syllable: /ˌɪntərɪndɪˈpɛndəns/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌɪntərɪndɪˈpɛndəns/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "nd" can sometimes be considered a syllable onset, but in this case, it's more natural to separate it after the vowel "i" in "independent". The "er" in "inter" is a weak syllable and often reduced.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Interindependence" functions primarily as a noun. While theoretically it could be used attributively (e.g., "interindependence relations"), the syllabification and stress remain consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Mutual independence; a state of affairs where entities are not reliant on each other.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: autonomy, self-sufficiency, reciprocity
• Antonyms: dependence, reliance, subservience
• Examples: "The goal of the treaty was to foster interindependence between the nations."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Independence: /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns/ - Syllable division: in-de-pen-dence. Similar structure, but lacks the "inter-" prefix. Stress pattern is also similar.
• Interdependent: /ˌɪntərɪnˈdɛpəndənt/ - Syllable division: in-ter-in-de-pen-dent. Contains the "inter-" prefix and the "-ent" suffix. Stress shifts to the "pen" syllable.
• Dependence: /dɪˈpɛndəns/ - Syllable division: de-pen-dence. Shorter word, but shares the "-ence" suffix and similar vowel sounds.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable Division Rules Applied:

1. Consonant-Vowel (CV): Every syllable must have a vowel sound. Consonants preceding a vowel are part of the syllable onset.
2. CV-C: When a vowel is followed by two consonants, the consonants are typically split between syllables if they form a permissible consonant cluster.
3. Vowel Digraphs/Diphthongs: Vowel combinations (e.g., "ea", "ai") generally remain within the same syllable.

Special Considerations:

• The "inter-" prefix can sometimes be pronounced with a reduced vowel /ɪntər/.
• Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is common in US English.
• The pronunciation of the "-ence" and "-ness" suffixes can vary slightly depending on regional accents and speech rate.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "inter" to /ɪntər/, or the vowel in "dependence" to /dɛpəns/. These variations would not significantly alter the syllable division.

Short Analysis:

"Interindependence" is a seven-syllable noun with primary stress on the fifth syllable (/ˌɪntərɪndɪˈpɛndəns/). It's formed from the prefix "inter-", the root "depend", and the suffixes "-ence" and "-ness". Syllabification follows CV and CV-C rules, with potential for vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.