Hyphenation ofinterresponsibility

Linguistic Analysis of "interresponsibility"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "interresponsibility" is pronounced /ˌɪntərˌrɛspɑnsəˈbɪləti/ (General American English). It presents challenges due to the multiple consonant clusters and the presence of schwa sounds.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets (consonants belonging to the following syllable) and avoiding stranded consonants, is as follows: in-ter-re-spon-si-bil-i-ty.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: inter- (Latin, meaning "between" or "among") - Function: Indicates reciprocity or interaction.
• Root: spon- (Latin spondere, meaning "to pledge, promise, or take responsibility") - Function: Core meaning related to responsibility.
• Suffix: -re- (Latin, forming a verb or noun) - Function: Connects the root to the following elements.
• Suffix: -sibility (Latin -bilis + -ity, meaning "capable of" + "state or quality of") - Function: Forms a noun denoting a quality or state of being responsible.

4. Stress Identification:

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

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌɪntərˌrɛspɑnsəˈbɪləti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence /rɛsp/ can sometimes be reduced in faster speech, but the standard pronunciation maintains all three sounds. The schwa sounds /ə/ are common in unstressed syllables in English.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Interresponsibility" functions primarily as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Mutual responsibility; the state of being jointly accountable.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: co-responsibility, joint accountability, shared responsibility
• Antonyms: individual responsibility, unaccountability
• Examples: "The success of the project hinged on the interresponsibility of all team members." "A culture of interresponsibility is essential for effective collaboration."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty (5 syllables) - Similar structure, but lacks the inter- prefix. Stress pattern is also on the penultimate syllable.
• Irresponsibility: ir-re-spon-si-bil-i-ty (6 syllables) - Similar structure, with the ir- prefix. Stress pattern is also on the penultimate syllable.
• Accountability: ac-coun-ta-bil-i-ty (5 syllables) - Shares the -bil-i-ty suffix, but differs in the initial syllable structure. Stress pattern is on the antepenultimate syllable.

Syllable Breakdown Details:

• in-: /ɪn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. Exception: Initial consonant cluster.
• ter-: /tər/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant, forming a closed syllable.
• re-: /rɛ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant.
• spon-: /spɑn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant cluster.
• si-: /sɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by a consonant.
• bil-: /bɪl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant.
• i-: /ɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Single vowel.
• ty-: /ti/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant.

Exceptions/Special Cases:

The initial consonant cluster /ɪntər/ requires consideration of sonority sequencing principles. The /n/ is permitted as it follows a vowel and precedes a sonorant. The word as a whole doesn't present major exceptions, but the length and complexity require careful application of syllable division rules.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Onset Maximization: Consonants are assigned to the following syllable whenever possible.
2. Vowel Nucleus: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
3. Closed Syllable Preference: Syllables are closed (ending in a consonant) whenever possible.
4. Avoid Stranded Consonants: Consonants are not left isolated as syllables.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might reduce the /t/ in "inter" to a flap [ɾ], but this doesn't affect the syllable division. Regional accents might influence vowel quality, but the core syllable structure remains consistent.