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Hyphenation ofnoncombustibility

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-com-bus-ti-bil-i-ty

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

/ˌnɒn kəmˈbʌstɪˈbɪlɪti/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0010111

Primary stress falls on the third syllable (/bʌst/). Secondary stress on the final syllable (/ti/). The first two syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

non/nɒn/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

com/kəm/

Open syllable.

bus/bʌs/

Closed syllable.

ti/tɪ/

Open syllable.

bil/bɪl/

Closed syllable.

i/ɪ/

Open syllable.

ty/ti/

Closed syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non-(prefix)
+
combust-(root)
+
-ibility(suffix)

Prefix: non-

Latin origin, negation.

Root: combust-

Latin origin, related to burning.

Suffix: -ibility

Latin origin, forms a noun denoting capacity.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of not being capable of burning; resistance to combustion.

Examples:

"The building materials were chosen for their noncombustibility."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

improbabilityim-prob-a-bil-i-ty

Shares the suffix *-ibility* and a similar stress pattern.

incompatibilityin-com-pat-i-bil-i-ty

Shares the prefix *in-* and suffix *-ibility*, demonstrating similar morphemic structure.

combustioncom-bus-tion

Shares the root *combust-* and illustrates consistent pronunciation of that root syllable.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel after Consonant

Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.

Consonant Cluster Integrity

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.

Syllable Weight

Syllables are formed to achieve a balanced weight.

Special Considerations

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

The length of the word and multiple morphemes contribute to syllabification complexity.

The presence of the schwa sound /ə/ in unstressed syllables is common in English.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'noncombustibility' is divided into seven syllables: non-com-bus-ti-bil-i-ty. It consists of the prefix 'non-', the root 'combust-', and the suffix '-ibility'. Primary stress falls on the third syllable. Syllable division follows vowel-after-consonant and consonant-cluster-integrity rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "noncombustibility"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "noncombustibility" is pronounced /ˌnɒn kəmˈbʌstɪˈbɪlɪti/ (General American English). It presents challenges due to its length, multiple morphemes, and the presence of consonant clusters.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): non-com-bus-ti-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
  • Root: combust- (Latin combustus, past participle of combure "to burn") - The core meaning related to burning.
  • Suffix: -ibility (Latin -bilis + -ity) - Forms a noun denoting the capacity or quality of being combustible.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /ˌnɒn kəmˈbʌstɪˈbɪlɪti/. A secondary stress is present on the final syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɒn kəmˈbʌstɪˈbɪlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-busti-" is a potential area for mis-syllabification. However, the rule favoring consonant clusters remaining intact within a syllable applies here.

7. Grammatical Role:

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

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of not being capable of burning; resistance to combustion.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: incombustibility, flame resistance, fire resistance
  • Antonyms: combustibility, flammability
  • Example Usage: "The building materials were chosen for their noncombustibility."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Improbability: im-prob-a-bil-i-ty (5 syllables) - Similar suffix -ibility, stress pattern is also similar.
  • Incompatibility: in-com-pat-i-bil-i-ty (6 syllables) - Similar prefix in- and suffix -ibility, but longer root.
  • Combustion: com-bus-tion (3 syllables) - Shares the root combust-, demonstrating how the root syllable is consistently pronounced.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
non /nɒn/ Open syllable, initial syllable Vowel after consonant rule None
com /kəm/ Open syllable Vowel after consonant rule None
bus /bʌs/ Closed syllable Consonant cluster remains intact None
ti /tɪ/ Open syllable Vowel after consonant rule None
bil /bɪl/ Closed syllable Consonant cluster remains intact None
i /ɪ/ Open syllable Vowel after consonant rule None
ty /ti/ Closed syllable Consonant cluster remains intact None

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel after Consonant: Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant (e.g., non-com, com-bus).
  2. Consonant Cluster Integrity: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable (e.g., bus-ti, bil-i).
  3. Syllable Weight: Syllables tend to be formed to achieve a balanced weight (avoiding overly short or long syllables).

Special Considerations:

The length of the word and the multiple morphemes contribute to the complexity of its syllabification. The presence of the schwa sound /ə/ in the first and second syllables is common in unstressed syllables in English.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents General American English, some regional variations might exist in vowel pronunciation. However, these variations are unlikely to significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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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.