Hyphenation ofnonascertainable

Linguistic Analysis of "nonascertainable"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "nonascertainable" is pronounced /ˌnɒnəˈsɜːrtənəbl̩/ (General American). It presents challenges due to its length, multiple morphemes, and vowel sequences.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

non-a-scer-tain-a-ble

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: non- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
• Root: certain (Latin certus, meaning "fixed, sure") - Core meaning of being definite or known.
• Suffix: -able (Latin -abilis) - Adjectival suffix indicating capability or possibility ("capable of being ascertained").
• Interfix: -tain- (often found in words related to certainty) - Connects the root to the suffix.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: non-a-scer-tain-a-ble. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -able, -ible, -ic, -ity, etc., unless overridden by other factors.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɒnəˈsɜːrtənəbl̩/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence /ərn/ in "certain" can sometimes be simplified in rapid speech, but the full form is standard. The final syllable "-ble" is often syllabic, as indicated by the /l̩/ symbol.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nonascertainable" functions exclusively as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Not able to be ascertained; not determinable.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: Undeterminable, unknowable, uncertain, indiscernible.
• Antonyms: Ascertainable, determinable, knowable, certain.
• Examples: "The exact cause of the illness remains nonascertainable." "The evidence was deemed nonascertainable in court."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Comparable Word 1: "unbelievable" (un-be-liev-a-ble) - Similar structure with a prefix, root, and -able suffix. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Comparable Word 2: "unacceptable" (un-ac-cept-a-ble) - Similar prefix and suffix. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Comparable Word 3: "understandable" (un-der-stand-a-ble) - Similar prefix and suffix. Stress falls on the third syllable.

The difference in stress placement in "nonascertainable" (fourth syllable) compared to the others (third syllable) is due to the length of the root "certain" and the influence of the interfix "-tain-". The longer root and interfix create a natural rhythmic grouping that favors stress on the fourth syllable.

10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

11. Division Rules Applied:

• Vowel-Consonant (VC) Rule: Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound.
• Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.
• Syllabic Consonant Rule: /l/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/ can form syllables when following a consonant.

12. Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology require careful consideration of stress placement and syllable boundaries. The interfix "-tain-" is a less common element, but its presence influences the rhythmic structure.

13. Short Analysis:

"Nonascertainable" is a seven-syllable adjective with primary stress on the fourth syllable (/ˌnɒnəˈsɜːrtənəbl̩/). It's formed from the prefix non-, root certain, and suffix -able. Syllabification follows standard English rules, dividing the word into non-a-scer-tain-a-ble. The word means "not able to be ascertained" and is used to describe something that cannot be determined.