Hyphenation ofnoncomprehensible
Syllable Division:
non-com-pre-hen-si-ble
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌnɑnˌkɑmprɪˈhɛnsɪbəl/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
0 0 0 0 1 0
Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('hen'), following the general English rule for words ending in '-ible'.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, onset 'n', rime 'an'
Closed syllable, onset 'c', rime 'am'
Closed syllable, onset 'pr', rime 'e'
Closed syllable, onset 'h', rime 'en'
Closed syllable, onset 's', rime 'i'
Closed syllable, onset 'b', rime 'əl'
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: non-
Latin origin, meaning 'not', functions as a negation.
Root: comprehend
Latin *comprehendere* – to grasp fully, core meaning of understanding.
Suffix: -ible
Latin *-ibilis*, adjective formation, indicating capability or possibility.
Not capable of being understood.
Examples:
"The lecture was so technical that it was completely noncomprehensible to the average student."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar structure with a prefix and suffix, and a comparable length.
Very similar, differing only by the prefix. Syllabification is identical.
Shares the '-sible' suffix, demonstrating a different stress pattern.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel After Consonant
Each vowel sound generally forms the nucleus of a syllable.
Consonant Cluster Rule
Consonant clusters are maintained within a syllable as long as they are pronounceable.
Morphological Boundaries
Syllable division often respects morphemic boundaries (prefix, root, suffix).
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The length of the word and the presence of multiple consonant clusters require careful application of syllabification rules.
The division aims to create pronounceable units while respecting the morphological structure.
Summary:
The word 'noncomprehensible' is divided into six syllables: non-com-pre-hen-si-ble. It consists of the prefix 'non-', the root 'comprehend', and the suffix '-ible'. Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable. Syllabification follows vowel-after-consonant and consonant cluster rules, respecting morphological boundaries.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "noncomprehensible"
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "noncomprehensible" is pronounced /ˌnɑnˌkɑmprɪˈhɛnsɪbəl/ in General American English. It presents challenges due to its length, multiple consonant clusters, and prefixes.
2. Syllable Division:
Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: non-com-pre-hen-si-ble.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: non- (Latin origin, meaning "not"). Morphological function: negation.
- Root: comprehend (Latin comprehendere – to grasp fully). Morphological function: core meaning of understanding.
- Suffix: -ible (Latin -ibilis). Morphological function: adjective formation, indicating capability or possibility.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌnɑnˌkɑmprɪˈhɛnsɪbəl/. This follows the general English rule of stressing the second-to-last syllable in words ending in -ible.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˌnɑnˌkɑmprɪˈhɛnsɪbəl/
6. Edge Case Review:
The consonant cluster "-mpr-" is a potential edge case. However, English allows for complex consonant clusters, especially in borrowed words. The syllable division respects the onset-rime structure, grouping consonants that naturally belong together.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Noncomprehensible" functions primarily as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: Not capable of being understood.
- Grammatical Category: Adjective
- Synonyms: unintelligible, incomprehensible, obscure, baffling
- Antonyms: comprehensible, understandable, clear, lucid
- Example Usage: "The lecture was so technical that it was completely noncomprehensible to the average student."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- Impossible: im-pos-si-ble. Similar structure with a prefix and suffix. Stress falls on the third syllable, following a similar pattern.
- Incomprehensible: in-com-pre-hen-si-ble. Very similar, differing only by the prefix. Syllabification is identical.
- Responsible: re-spon-si-ble. Shares the "-sible" suffix. Stress falls on the second syllable, demonstrating a different stress pattern due to the different root.
Detailed Syllable Analysis:
| Syllable | IPA Transcription | Description | Rule Applied | Exceptions/Special Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| non | /nɑn/ | Open syllable, onset 'n', rime 'an'. | Vowel after consonant rule. | None |
| com | /kɑm/ | Closed syllable, onset 'c', rime 'am'. | Consonant cluster rule. | None |
| pre | /prɛ/ | Closed syllable, onset 'pr', rime 'e'. | Consonant cluster rule. | None |
| hen | /hɛn/ | Closed syllable, onset 'h', rime 'en'. | Vowel after consonant rule. | None |
| si | /sɪ/ | Closed syllable, onset 's', rime 'i'. | Vowel after consonant rule. | None |
| ble | /bəl/ | Closed syllable, onset 'b', rime 'əl'. | Vowel after consonant rule. | None |
Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):
The length of the word and the presence of multiple consonant clusters require careful application of syllabification rules. The division aims to create pronounceable units while respecting the morphological structure.
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel After Consonant: Each vowel sound generally forms the nucleus of a syllable.
- Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are maintained within a syllable as long as they are pronounceable.
- Morphological Boundaries: Syllable division often respects morphemic boundaries (prefix, root, suffix).
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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.