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Hyphenation ofmultiple-toothed

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

mul-ti-ple-too-thed

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/ˈmʌltɪpl̩ˌtuːðt/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

10100

Primary stress on the third syllable ('ple'), secondary stress on the first syllable ('mul').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

mul/mʌl/

Open syllable, initial syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ti/tɪ/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ple/pl̩/

Closed syllable, containing a syllabic consonant /l̩/.

too/tuː/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

thed/ðt/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

multiple-(prefix)
+
tooth(root)
+
-ed(suffix)

Prefix: multiple-

Latin origin (*multiplus*), indicates quantity.

Root: tooth

Old English origin (*tōþ*), basic unit of meaning.

Suffix: -ed

Old English origin (*-ed*), past tense/participle marker or characteristic.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Having many teeth.

Examples:

"The sawfish is a multiple-toothed fish."

"The ancient predator had multiple-toothed jaws."

Antonyms: toothless, edentate
Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

multiple choicemul-ti-ple choice

Similar syllable structure and stress pattern.

complicatedcom-pli-ca-ted

Similar stress pattern (penultimate syllable stress).

attributedat-tri-bu-ted

Similar suffix '-ed' pronunciation and syllabification.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Division

Syllables are divided around consonant clusters.

Syllabic Consonant Rule

/l/ can function as a syllable nucleus.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

The syllabic /l/ in 'multiple' is an exception to the typical CV syllable structure.

The pronunciation of the '-ed' suffix can vary, but in this case, it's a simple /t/.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'multiple-toothed' is an adjective with four syllables (mul-ti-ple-too-thed) and primary stress on 'ple'. It's formed from the prefix 'multiple-', the root 'tooth', and the suffix '-ed'. The syllabification follows standard English rules, with a notable exception of the syllabic /l/ in 'multiple'.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "multiple-toothed"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "multiple-toothed" is pronounced as /ˈmʌltɪpl̩ˌtuːðt/. It consists of two distinct morphemes joined together. The pronunciation involves a schwa in the first syllable and a clear distinction between the vowel sounds in "multiple" and "toothed".

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as mul-ti-ple-toothed.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: "multiple-" (Latin multiplus - many folds). Function: Indicates quantity or multiplicity.
  • Root: "tooth" (Old English tōþ). Function: The basic unit of meaning, referring to a hard, bony enamel-coated structure in the jaws of most vertebrates.
  • Suffix: "-ed" (Old English -ed). Function: Past tense/past participle marker, or indicates a characteristic of having teeth.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable, "ple" in "mul-ti-ple-toothed". The secondary stress is on the first syllable, "mul".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈmʌltɪpl̩ˌtuːðt/

6. Edge Case Review:

The syllable "ple" is a trochaic syllable, meaning it has a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable. The "-ed" suffix can sometimes be pronounced as /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/ depending on the preceding sound. Here, it's pronounced /t/. The syllabic consonant /l̩/ in "multiple" is a common feature in English, where /l/ can function as a syllable nucleus.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Multiple-toothed" functions primarily as an adjective, describing something having many teeth. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Having many teeth.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: Many-toothed, dentate (formal)
  • Antonyms: Toothless, edentate
  • Examples: "The sawfish is a multiple-toothed fish." "The ancient predator had multiple-toothed jaws."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "multiple choice": mul-ti-ple choice. Similar syllable structure, stress on "ple".
  • "complicated": com-pli-ca-ted. Similar stress pattern (penultimate syllable stress).
  • "attributed": at-tri-bu-ted. Similar suffix "-ed" pronunciation and syllabification.

Syllable Breakdown Details:

  • mul: /mʌl/ - Open syllable, ending in a vowel sound. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: None.
  • ti: /tɪ/ - Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Rule: Consonant cluster following a vowel. Exception: None.
  • ple: /pl̩/ - Closed syllable, containing a syllabic consonant. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by a vowel. Exception: Syllabic /l/.
  • toothed: /tuːðt/ - This is further broken down into:
    • too: /tuː/ - Open syllable, ending in a vowel sound. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: None.
    • thed: /ðt/ - Closed syllable, ending in a consonant cluster. Rule: Consonant cluster following a vowel. Exception: None.

Exceptions/Special Cases:

  • The syllabic /l/ in "multiple" is a common exception to the typical CV syllable structure.
  • The pronunciation of the "-ed" suffix can vary, but in this case, it's a simple /t/.

Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Consonant (VC) Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Division: Syllables are divided around consonant clusters.
  • Syllabic Consonant Rule: /l/ can form a syllable nucleus.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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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.