Hyphenation ofinternationalize

Analysis of "internationalize" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "internationalize" is pronounced /ˌɪntərˈnæʃənəlaɪz/ in US English. It features multiple schwas, a primary stress on the fourth syllable, and a final /z/ sound.

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 as a combining form.
• Root: nation (Latin natio, meaning "birth, race, people") - the core meaning relating to a body of people.
• Suffix: -al (Latin, forming adjectives) - modifies the root to relate to a nation.
• Suffix: -ize (Greek -izein, forming verbs) - indicates the act of making something international.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: in-ter-na-tion-al-ize.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌɪntərˈnæʃənəlaɪz/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "tional" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, the standard pronunciation dictates a clear syllable break before the 'i'.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Internationalize" primarily functions as a verb. While a noun form "internationalization" exists, the syllabification of the verb form is the focus here.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: To make international; to adapt or modify something to suit international conditions or standards.
• Grammatical Category: Verb
• Synonyms: globalize, universalize, cosmopolitanize
• Antonyms: nationalize, localize
• Examples:
  • "The company plans to internationalize its product line."
  • "Efforts are being made to internationalize the curriculum."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• nationalize: na-tion-al-ize (similar structure, stress on the third syllable)
• organization: or-ga-ni-za-tion (similar suffix "-ization", stress on the third syllable)
• industrialize: in-dus-tri-al-ize (similar suffix "-alize", stress on the third syllable)

The key difference is the length and complexity of the prefix in "internationalize," leading to more syllables and a shifted stress pattern. The "-alize" suffix consistently receives stress in these words.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables generally end with a vowel sound.
2. Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC): Consonant clusters are often broken around vowel sounds.
3. Prefix/Suffix Separation: Morphemic boundaries often coincide with syllable boundaries.

Special Considerations:

The "tion" syllable is a common point of syllabification, and the silent 't' is a morphological feature. The schwa sounds in unstressed syllables are typical of US English pronunciation.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription is standard for US English, some regional variations might exist in vowel quality or stress placement, but the syllable division would likely remain the same.