Hyphenation ofirresponsibility
Syllable Division:
ir-re-spon-si-bil-i-ty
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌɪrˌrɛspɑnˈsɪbɪləti/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
0010001
Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable (/sɪbɪlɪti/), following the general rule of penultimate syllable stress in words ending in -ity.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, onset 'ir'
Open syllable, onset 'r'
Closed syllable, onset 'sp', coda 'n'
Open syllable, onset 's'
Open syllable, onset 'b'
Open syllable, onset null
Closed syllable, onset 't', coda 'y'
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: ir-
Old English *un-* via Latin *in-*, negative prefix
Root: respons-
Latin *responsum*, meaning 'answer' or 'reply'
Suffix: -ibility
Latin *-abilitas*, forming abstract nouns
The state or quality of being irresponsible; lack of responsibility.
Examples:
"His irresponsibility led to the project's failure."
"She showed a shocking level of irresponsibility."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Shares the same root and suffix, demonstrating consistent syllabification of the final portion of the word.
Shares the '-ibility' suffix, illustrating consistent syllabification of the suffix.
Shares the '-ibility' suffix, illustrating consistent syllabification of the suffix.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Maximize Onsets
Attempt to include as many consonants as possible in the onset of each syllable.
Vowel-R Rule
Consonants followed by 'r' are generally included in the onset.
Consonant Cluster Rule
Allow consonant clusters in the onset and coda, provided they are permissible in English phonotactics.
Vowel-Only Syllables
Syllables consisting solely of a vowel are permitted.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The 'r' sounds can be reduced or elided in casual speech.
The vowel sounds are primarily schwas, which can be challenging to identify.
The 'spon' sequence requires careful vowel separation.
Summary:
The word 'irresponsibility' is divided into seven syllables: ir-re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. It consists of the prefix 'ir-', the root 'respons-', and the suffix '-ibility'. The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable. Syllabification follows rules maximizing onsets and respecting vowel sounds, with considerations for 'r' sounds and schwas.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "irresponsibility"
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "irresponsibility" is pronounced /ˌɪrˌrɛspɑnˈsɪbɪləti/ (General American English). It presents challenges due to the multiple schwas, the 'r' sounds, and the stress pattern.
2. Syllable Division:
The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets and respecting vowel sounds, is: ir-re-spon-si-bil-i-ty.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: ir- (Old English un- via Latin in-) - negative prefix, meaning "not".
- Root: respons- (Latin responsum) - meaning "answer" or "reply".
- Suffix: -ibility (Latin -abilitas) - forming abstract nouns denoting a quality or state.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: /ˌɪrˌrɛspɑnˈsɪbɪləti/. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ity.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˌɪrˌrɛspɑnˈsɪbɪləti/
6. Edge Case Review:
The sequence "spon" can sometimes be ambiguous, but the vowel sound clearly separates it into "spon" and "si". The 'r' sounds are often reduced or elided in rapid speech, but are present in the standard pronunciation.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Irresponsibility" primarily functions as a noun. While it can be adjectivally used (e.g., "irresponsibility of action"), the core syllabification and stress remain consistent.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The state or quality of being irresponsible; lack of responsibility.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: recklessness, carelessness, negligence, dereliction
- Antonyms: responsibility, accountability, conscientiousness
- Examples: "His irresponsibility led to the project's failure." "She showed a shocking level of irresponsibility."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable. The addition of the 'ir-' prefix shifts the stress slightly earlier.
- Possibility: pos-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix, stress on the antepenultimate syllable. Different onset structure.
- Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix, stress on the antepenultimate syllable. Different onset structure and vowel sounds.
Detailed Syllable Breakdown:
| Syllable | IPA Transcription | Description | Rule Applied | Exceptions/Special Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ir | /ɪr/ | Open syllable, onset 'ir' | Vowel-R rule, maximizing onset | 'ir' is a relatively uncommon onset |
| re | /rɛ/ | Open syllable, onset 'r' | Vowel-R rule, maximizing onset | |
| spon | /spɑn/ | Closed syllable, onset 'sp', coda 'n' | Consonant cluster rule, maximizing onset | Potential ambiguity without clear vowel separation |
| si | /sɪ/ | Open syllable, onset 's' | Vowel-R rule, maximizing onset | |
| bil | /bɪl/ | Open syllable, onset 'b' | Vowel-R rule, maximizing onset | |
| i | /ɪ/ | Open syllable, onset null | Vowel-only syllable | Short vowel sound |
| ty | /ti/ | Closed syllable, onset 't', coda 'y' | Consonant-Vowel-Consonant rule | 'y' functions as a glide/semi-vowel |
Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):
The 'r' sounds throughout the word can be reduced or elided in casual speech, but the standard pronunciation maintains them. The vowel sounds are primarily schwas, which can be challenging to identify without phonetic training.
Division Rules Applied:
- Maximize Onsets: Attempt to include as many consonants as possible in the onset of each syllable.
- Vowel-R Rule: Consonants followed by 'r' are generally included in the onset.
- Consonant Cluster Rule: Allow consonant clusters in the onset and coda, provided they are permissible in English phonotactics.
- Vowel-Only Syllables: Syllables consisting solely of a vowel are permitted.
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