Hyphenation ofirresponsiveness
Syllable Division:
ir-re-spon-si-ble-ness
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ɪˌrɛspɑnsɪvnəs/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
010110
Primary stress falls on the third syllable (/spɑn/), and secondary stress on the first syllable (/ɪr/). The remaining syllables are unstressed.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, initial consonant cluster.
Open syllable.
Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.
Open syllable.
Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.
Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: ir-
Negative prefix, Old English origin via Latin 'in-', meaning 'not'.
Root: respons-
Latin origin, meaning 'answer' or 'reply'.
Suffix: -ive-ness
Combination of adjectival suffix '-ive' (Latin origin) and noun-forming suffix '-ness' (Old English origin).
The quality or state of being irresponsible; lack of accountability or sense of duty.
Examples:
"His irresponsiveness to the crisis was shocking."
"The company was criticized for its irresponsiveness to customer complaints."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Shares the 'respon-' root and similar suffixation patterns.
Shares the 'respon-' root, shorter word.
Similar suffix '-ness' and comparable syllable count.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel-Consonant (VC)
Syllables typically end in vowels.
Consonant Cluster Rule
Consonant clusters are often split to maintain syllable structure.
Initial Consonant Cluster
Initial consonant clusters are often treated as a single unit.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The initial 'ir-' cluster is an exception to the typical 'CV' syllable structure.
The word's length and multiple suffixes contribute to its complexity.
Summary:
The word 'irresponsiveness' is divided into six syllables: ir-re-spon-si-ble-ness. It's a noun formed from the root 'respons-' with the prefixes 'ir-' and suffixes '-ive' and '-ness'. Primary stress falls on the third syllable. Syllable division follows standard vowel-consonant and consonant cluster rules, with the initial 'ir-' cluster being a notable exception.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "irresponsiveness"
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "irresponsiveness" is pronounced /ɪˌrɛspɑnsɪvnəs/ in US English. It's a relatively complex word with multiple morphemes and a potential for varied stress depending on context (though generally, stress falls on the third syllable).
2. Syllable Division:
The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: ir-re-spon-si-ble-ness.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: ir- (Old English un- via Latin in-) - negative prefix, meaning "not".
- Root: respons- (Latin responsum, past participle of respondere "to answer") - meaning "answer" or "reply".
- Suffix: -ive (Latin -ivus) - adjectival suffix, forming adjectives from verbs.
- Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes) - noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /ɪˌrɛspɑnsɪvnəs/. The secondary stress falls on the first syllable.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ɪˌrɛspɑnsɪvnəs/
6. Edge Case Review:
The sequence "-spon-" can sometimes be a point of ambiguity, but the established pronunciation and morphological structure clearly indicate the division as "spon-si-".
7. Grammatical Role:
"Irresponsiveness" primarily functions as a noun. While theoretically, one could attempt to use it adjectivally (though it's uncommon and sounds awkward), the syllabification and stress remain consistent.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The quality or state of being irresponsible; lack of accountability or sense of duty.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: recklessness, carelessness, negligence, unreliability.
- Antonyms: responsibility, accountability, dependability.
- Examples: "His irresponsiveness to the crisis was shocking." "The company was criticized for its irresponsiveness to customer complaints."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar structure, stress on the third syllable. The addition of "-bil-i-ty" follows similar suffixation patterns.
- Responsive: re-spon-sive. Stress on the second syllable. Shorter word, but shares the "respon-" root.
- Sensitiveness: sen-si-tive-ness. Similar suffix "-ness" and a comparable syllable count. Stress on the third syllable.
Detailed Syllable Analysis:
- ir-: /ɪr/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant. Exception: Initial consonant cluster "ir" is permissible.
- re-: /rɛ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by a consonant.
- spon-: /spɑn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant cluster.
- si-: /sɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by a consonant.
- ble-: /blɛ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant cluster.
- ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by a consonant cluster.
Exceptions/Special Cases:
The initial "ir-" cluster is a common exception to the typical "CV" syllable structure. The word's length and multiple suffixes contribute to its complexity.
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables typically end in vowels.
- Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often split to maintain syllable structure.
- Initial Consonant Cluster: Initial consonant clusters are often treated as a single unit.
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What is hyphenation
Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.
This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.
With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.