Hyphenation ofnonarbitrariness

Linguistic Analysis of "nonarbitrariness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "nonarbitrariness" is pronounced /ˌnɑnɑrˈbɪtrərɪnəs/ (General American English). It presents challenges due to the initial consonant cluster and the presence of multiple schwas.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: non-ar-bi-trar-i-ness.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: non- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
• Root: arbitrary (Latin arbitrarius, from arbitrum "judgment") - The core meaning relating to chance or choice.
• Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes, from *-nessu) - Forms a noun denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: /ˌnɑnɑrˈbɪtrərɪnəs/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑnɑrˈbɪtrərɪnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The initial "non" can sometimes be pronounced as a single syllable /nɑn/, but the more common and accepted pronunciation separates it into two syllables. The "ar" syllable is relatively weak and often reduced to a schwa.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nonarbitrariness" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality of not being arbitrary; the state of being governed by rules or principles rather than chance.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: determinism, predictability, regularity, lawfulness
• Antonyms: arbitrariness, randomness, capriciousness
• Example Usage: "The nonarbitrariness of linguistic rules allows for effective communication."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Similar Word 1: "nonconformity": non-con-for-mi-ty. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Similar Word 2: "arbitrariness": ar-bi-trar-i-ness. Shares the root and suffix. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Similar Word 3: "regularity": reg-u-lar-i-ty. Similar suffix structure. Stress falls on the second syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the weight of the prefixes and the inherent sonority of the root vowels. "Nonarbitrariness" has a heavier prefix ("non-") than "arbitrariness" or "regularity", influencing the stress pattern.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Onset-Rime: Dividing syllables based on the consonant onset and vowel-containing rime.
2. Vowel-Consonant: Dividing syllables after a vowel sound.
3. Consonant Cluster-Vowel: Handling consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable.

Special Considerations:

The initial "non" presents a slight ambiguity in pronunciation, but the two-syllable division is more common and phonetically justifiable. The schwa reduction in "ar" and "ness" is typical of unstressed syllables in English.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might reduce the vowel in "arbitrary" to a schwa, affecting the pronunciation of the entire word. However, the syllable division remains consistent.