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Hyphenation ofnoncondescension

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-con-de-scen-sion

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

/ˌnɑːn kɑːn.dəˈsɛn.ʃən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00010

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('scen'), the penultimate syllable. This is typical for words ending in '-ion'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

non/nɑːn/

Open syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant.

con/kɑːn/

Open syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant.

de/də/

Open syllable, schwa vowel.

scen/sɛn/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant. 'sc' cluster maintained.

sion/ʃən/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster ending in a sonorant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non-(prefix)
+
descend(root)
+
-ion(suffix)

Prefix: non-

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

Root: descend

Latin *descendere*, meaning 'to come down', core meaning related to lowering oneself.

Suffix: -ion

Latin origin, forms abstract nouns, nominalization.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of not being condescending; lack of patronizing behavior.

Examples:

"Her noncondescension was refreshing; she treated everyone with equal respect."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

comprehensioncom-pre-hen-sion

Similar structure with a prefix and -ion suffix; stress pattern.

disconnectiondis-con-nec-tion

Similar structure with a prefix and -ion suffix; stress pattern.

condescensioncon-de-scen-sion

Base word without the 'non-' prefix; identical syllable structure and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Coda Rule

Syllables generally end with a vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are maintained within a single syllable unless sonority sequencing dictates otherwise.

Sonority Sequencing Principle

Consonant clusters are ordered by sonority (increasing sonority from onset to coda).

Special Considerations

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

The 'sc' cluster in 'scen' is generally treated as a single unit, though a split is theoretically possible.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'noncondescension' is divided into five syllables: non-con-de-scen-sion. It consists of the prefix 'non-', the root 'descend', and the suffix '-ion'. The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('scen'). Syllabification follows standard US English rules, prioritizing vowel-coda structure and maintaining consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "noncondescension"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "noncondescension" is a complex word with multiple morphemes and potential syllabic ambiguities. Its pronunciation in US English is generally /ˌnɑːn kɑːn.dəˈsɛn.ʃən/. The stress falls on the penultimate syllable ("-sen-").

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: non-con-de-scen-sion.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin origin, meaning "not"). Morphological function: negation.
  • Root: descend (Latin descendere, meaning "to come down"). Morphological function: core meaning related to lowering oneself.
  • Suffix: -ion (Latin origin, forming abstract nouns). Morphological function: nominalization.
  • Internal Component: con- (Latin origin, meaning "with, together"). Morphological function: intensifier/modifier.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: "scen" in "de-scen-sion". This is consistent with the general rule of stressing the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ion.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑːn kɑːn.dəˈsɛn.ʃən/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "scen" presents a potential edge case. While consonant clusters can sometimes be split across syllables, the "sc" cluster is generally maintained within a single syllable, especially when followed by a vowel.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Noncondescension" functions solely as a noun. There are no significant syllabification or stress shifts if it were to hypothetically function as another part of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of not being condescending; lack of patronizing behavior.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: humility, respectfulness, graciousness, unpretentiousness.
  • Antonyms: condescension, arrogance, haughtiness, patronization.
  • Example Usage: "Her noncondescension was refreshing; she treated everyone with equal respect."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Comparison 1: "comprehension" (/ˌkɑːm.prɪˈhɛn.ʃən/): Syllable division: com-pre-hen-sion. Similar structure with a prefix and -ion suffix. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • Comparison 2: "disconnection" (/ˌdɪs.kəˈnɛk.ʃən/): Syllable division: dis-con-nec-tion. Similar structure with a prefix and -ion suffix. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • Comparison 3: "condescension" (/ˌkɑːn.dəˈsɛn.ʃən/): Syllable division: con-de-scen-sion. The base word without the "non-" prefix. Stress on the penultimate syllable. The addition of "non-" doesn't alter the stress pattern of the remaining word.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
non /nɑːn/ Open syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant. Vowel-Coda Rule: Syllables generally end with a vowel sound. None
con /kɑːn/ Open syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant. Vowel-Coda Rule None
de /də/ Open syllable, schwa vowel. Vowel-Coda Rule None
scen /sɛn/ Closed syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant. Consonant Cluster Rule: "sc" is treated as a single onset. Potential split if "sc" were to be considered separate onsets, but this is uncommon.
sion /ʃən/ Closed syllable, consonant cluster ending in a sonorant. Sonority Sequencing Principle: Consonant clusters are ordered by sonority. None

Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):

The initial "non-" prefix is a relatively common prefix, and its syllabification is straightforward. The "scen" syllable requires consideration of the "sc" cluster, but it's generally treated as a single unit.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Coda Rule: Syllables generally end with a vowel sound.
  2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are maintained within a single syllable unless sonority sequencing dictates otherwise.
  3. Sonority Sequencing Principle: Consonant clusters are ordered by sonority (increasing sonority from onset to coda).
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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