Hyphenation ofmatter-of-course

Linguistic Analysis of "matter-of-course" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "matter-of-course" is a compound noun phrase functioning as a single lexical item. Its pronunciation involves multiple syllables and a degree of phrasal stress. The pronunciation is generally /ˈmætər əv kɔrs/.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows: mat-ter-of-course.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• matter: Root. Origin: Old English mætere (meaning 'thing, affair, concern'). Morphological function: Noun, denoting substance or importance.
• of: Preposition. Origin: Old English of. Morphological function: Indicates relationship.
• course: Root. Origin: Old French cors (meaning 'running, direction'). Morphological function: Noun, denoting a path or usual procedure.

The phrase functions as a single unit, but the individual morphemes retain their origins.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the first syllable of "matter": /ˈmætər/. Secondary stress is present on "course": /ˈmætər əv ˈkɔrs/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈmætər əv kɔrs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The "of" is often reduced to /əv/ or even /ə/ in rapid speech, but the syllabification remains consistent. The compound nature of the phrase could lead to some variation in perceived stress, but the primary stress remains on "matter".

7. Grammatical Role:

"Matter-of-course" functions primarily as a noun phrase. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Something that happens routinely or as expected; a normal or natural occurrence.
• Grammatical Category: Noun phrase
• Synonyms: routine, commonplace, ordinary, natural, expected
• Antonyms: unusual, extraordinary, exceptional, surprising
• Examples: "It was a matter-of-course decision to attend the meeting." "He accepted the award as a matter of course."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• waterfall: wa-ter-fall. Similar syllable structure (CVC-CVC). Stress on the first syllable.
• aftermath: af-ter-math. Similar syllable structure (CVC-CVC). Stress on the second syllable.
• buttercup: but-ter-cup. Similar syllable structure (CVC-CVC). Stress on the first syllable.

"Matter-of-course" differs in that it's a compound phrase rather than a single word, and the "of" introduces a schwa sound, affecting the overall rhythm. The stress pattern is also unique, with primary stress on "matter" and secondary stress on "course".

Syllable Breakdown Details:

• mat: /mæt/ - Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Rule: Vowel sounds carry syllable weight.
• ter: /tər/ - Closed syllable, consonant-vowel-consonant. Rule: Consonant clusters are often broken after the vowel.
• of: /əv/ - Open syllable, vowel sound. Rule: Single vowel sounds form a syllable.
• course: /kɔrs/ - Closed syllable, consonant-vowel-consonant. Rule: Consonant clusters are often broken after the vowel.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel Rule: Every syllable must contain a vowel sound.
2. Onset-Rime Rule: Syllables are divided into an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a rime (vowel and any following consonants).
3. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often broken after the vowel.

Special Considerations:

• The reduction of "of" to /ə/ or /əv/ is a common phonetic variation.
• The compound nature of the phrase requires considering the individual morphemes.
• Regional variations in pronunciation might affect the precise phonetic realization of the vowels.