Hyphenation ofmultidenominational

Linguistic Analysis of "multidenominational"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "multidenominational" is pronounced /ˌmʌltiˌdɛnəˈmeɪʃənəl/ in US English. It presents challenges due to its length, multiple morphemes, and potential for varying stress patterns depending on context.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word is divided as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: multi- (Latin, meaning "many") - functions as a numeral prefix.
• Root: denomin- (Latin, from denominare meaning "to name") - the core meaning relating to naming or categories.
• Suffix: -ational (Latin/English, forming adjectives from nouns or verbs) - indicates a quality or characteristic.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌmʌltiˌdɛnəˈmeɪʃənəl/. This is typical for words ending in -ational.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌmʌltiˌdɛnəˈmeɪʃənəl/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-denomin-" can sometimes be a point of ambiguity, but the presence of the suffix "-ational" clearly defines the root.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Multidenominational" primarily functions as an adjective. While it could theoretically be used to form a noun (referring to something that is multidenominational), the syllabification and stress remain consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Including or relating to multiple religious denominations.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: interdenominational, ecumenical
• Antonyms: denominational, sectarian
• Examples: "a multidenominational service," "a multidenominational school."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• International: in-ter-na-tion-al (similar suffix, stress on the penultimate syllable)
• Organizational: or-ga-ni-za-tion-al (similar suffix, stress on the penultimate syllable)
• Educational: ed-u-ca-tion-al (similar suffix, stress on the penultimate syllable)

These words share the -ational suffix and exhibit the same stress pattern, reinforcing the rule that this suffix attracts primary stress. The differences in syllable division stem from the varying consonant and vowel clusters in the prefixes and roots.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant (e.g., de-no-mi).
2. Consonant Cluster Simplification: Initial consonant clusters are permissible and do not necessarily require syllable separation (e.g., mul-ti).
3. Suffix Separation: Suffixes are generally separated into their own syllables (e.g., -tion-al).
4. Stress-Timing: English is a stress-timed language, influencing syllable duration and prominence.

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology require careful consideration of morpheme boundaries and stress placement. The "-ational" suffix consistently attracts primary stress.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents the most common US English pronunciation, slight variations in vowel quality or stress prominence may occur depending on regional accents. These variations would not significantly alter the syllable division.