Hyphenation ofneurotransmission

Linguistic Analysis of "neurotransmission"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "neurotransmission" is pronounced /ˌnʊəroʊtrænsˈmɪʃən/ in US English. It's a complex word with multiple morphemes and a relatively long phonetic structure.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): neu-ro-trans-mis-sion

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: neuro- (Greek, meaning "nerve") - functions as a combining form indicating relation to the nervous system.
• Root: transmit (Latin, transmittere - "to send across") - the core meaning of sending a signal.
• Suffix: -sion (Latin) - a noun-forming suffix, indicating a process or action.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: /ˌnʊəroʊtrænsˈmɪʃən/. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ion.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnʊəroʊtrænsˈmɪʃən/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "trans" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, it's clearly part of the root morpheme and is treated as a single unit. The 's' is not a syllable onset in this case, but part of the consonant cluster within the syllable.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Neurotransmission" primarily functions as a noun. While it's derived from the verb "transmit," the addition of the "-sion" suffix solidifies its noun status. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role as it is a fixed form.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The transmission of impulses along nerves; the process by which a nerve impulse is passed from one nerve cell to another.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: synaptic transmission, signal transduction
• Antonyms: (None directly applicable, as it's a process)
• Examples:
  • "The drug affects neurotransmission in the brain."
  • "Understanding neurotransmission is crucial for developing treatments for neurological disorders."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• communication: com-mu-ni-ca-tion - Similar structure with a suffix "-tion". Stress falls on the second syllable.
• administration: ad-mi-nis-tra-tion - Similar structure with a suffix "-tion". Stress falls on the third syllable.
• transmission: trans-mis-sion - Similar structure with a suffix "-sion". Stress falls on the second syllable.

The difference in stress placement in "neurotransmission" compared to "transmission" is due to the added prefix "neuro-", which shifts the stress pattern. The longer word length also influences the stress placement, favoring the penultimate syllable.

10. Syllable Analysis with Rules and Exceptions:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant (VC) Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel when followed by a consonant (e.g., neu-ro).
2. Consonant Cluster Division: When a consonant cluster occurs between vowels, the cluster is often maintained within a syllable (e.g., trans-mis).
3. Suffix Division: Suffixes are generally separated into their own syllables (e.g., -sion).

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology require careful consideration of stress placement and syllable boundaries. The prefix "neuro-" adds complexity, influencing the overall stress pattern.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents the standard US English pronunciation, slight variations may occur in different regional accents. These variations are unlikely to significantly alter the syllable division.