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Hyphenation ofnon-co-operative

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-co-op-er-a-tive

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

/nɑn koʊˈɑp.ər.ə.tɪv/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

001001

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('op'). Secondary stress is present on the final syllable ('tive').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

non/nɑn/

Open syllable, containing a single vowel sound.

co/koʊ/

Open syllable, functioning as an interfix.

op/ɑp/

Closed syllable, stressed syllable.

er/ər/

Open syllable, containing a schwa sound.

a/ə/

Open syllable, containing a schwa sound.

tive/tɪv/

Closed syllable, containing the suffix -ative.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non-(prefix)
+
oper-(root)
+
-ative(suffix)

Prefix: non-

Latin origin, meaning 'not', functions as a negation.

Root: oper-

Latin origin (*operari*), meaning 'to work', core meaning related to action.

Suffix: -ative

Latin origin (*-ativus*), forms an adjective indicating a quality or tendency.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Not willing to cooperate; unhelpful and unwilling to work with others.

Examples:

"The witness was non-co-operative with the police."

"He adopted a non-co-operative attitude during the negotiations."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

collaborativecol-lab-o-ra-tive

Shares the *-ative* suffix and a similar vowel structure.

operativeop-er-a-tive

Shares the *-ative* suffix and the '-er-' syllable.

nonconformistnon-con-for-mist

Shares the *non-* prefix and a similar structure with multiple syllables.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each syllable must contain at least one vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are split to maintain pronounceability.

Onset-Rime Rule

Syllables are structured around an onset (initial consonants) and a rime (vowel and following consonants).

Prefix/Suffix Rule

Prefixes and suffixes often form separate syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The hyphenated nature of the word does not alter the pronunciation-based syllabification.

The 'co-' interfix is treated as a separate syllable due to its distinct pronunciation.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'non-co-operative' is syllabified as non-co-op-er-a-tive, with primary stress on 'op'. It consists of the prefix 'non-', root 'oper-', and suffix '-ative'. The syllabification follows standard English vowel and consonant cluster rules, resulting in six syllables.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "non-co-operative" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "non-co-operative" is a complex word with multiple morphemes and potential syllabic ambiguities. Its pronunciation in US English generally follows standard English phonological rules, but the presence of multiple vowels and consonant clusters requires careful consideration.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word is divided as follows (using only original letters): non-co-op-er-a-tive

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin origin, meaning "not"). Morphological function: negation.
  • Root: oper- (Latin operari, meaning "to work"). Morphological function: core meaning related to action or functioning.
  • Suffix: -ative (Latin origin, from -ativus, meaning "tending to, relating to"). Morphological function: forms an adjective indicating a quality or tendency.
  • Interfix: co- (Latin origin, meaning "with, together"). Morphological function: combines with the root to modify its meaning.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: op. The stress pattern is indicative of the adjective's structure, with the suffix receiving secondary stress.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/nɑn koʊˈɑp.ər.ə.tɪv/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-op-" can sometimes be ambiguous, but in this case, it clearly forms a syllable due to the vowel sound. The "-er-" syllable is also a common pattern in English.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Non-co-operative" primarily functions as an adjective. While it could theoretically be used attributively as part of a noun phrase, the syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Not willing to cooperate; unhelpful and unwilling to work with others.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: uncooperative, unwilling, obstructive, resistant, defiant
  • Antonyms: cooperative, helpful, amenable, compliant
  • Examples: "The witness was non-co-operative with the police." "He adopted a non-co-operative attitude during the negotiations."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Comparative Word 1: collaborative /kəˈlæb.ər.ə.tɪv/ - Syllables: col-lab-o-ra-tive. Similar suffix -ative and vowel structure. Stress pattern is also similar.
  • Comparative Word 2: operative /ˈɑp.ər.ə.tɪv/ - Syllables: op-er-a-tive. Shares the -ative suffix and the "-er-" syllable. Stress pattern is also similar.
  • Comparative Word 3: nonconformist /nɑn.kənˈfɔr.mɪst/ - Syllables: non-con-for-mist. Shares the non- prefix and a similar structure with multiple syllables.

10. Syllable Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable must contain at least one vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally split to maintain pronounceability.
  • Onset-Rime Rule: Syllables are structured around an onset (initial consonants) and a rime (vowel and following consonants).
  • Prefix/Suffix Rule: Prefixes and suffixes often form separate syllables.

11. Special Considerations:

The hyphenated nature of the word initially might suggest a different syllabification, but the pronunciation dictates the division as described above. The "co-" interfix is treated as a separate syllable due to its distinct pronunciation.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some regional variations might slightly alter the vowel sounds (e.g., /nɑːn/ instead of /nɑn/), but the core syllabification remains consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.