Hyphenation ofnoncontemptibility

Linguistic Analysis of "noncontemptibility"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "noncontemptibility" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a relatively straightforward application of English syllabification rules, though the length and complexity present challenges.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): non-con-tempt-i-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: non- (Latin origin, meaning "not"). Morphological function: negation.
• Root: contempt (Latin contemptus, past participle of contemnere meaning "to despise"). Morphological function: core meaning of the word.
• Suffix: -ibility (Latin -ibilitas, from ibilis meaning "able to be"). Morphological function: forms a noun denoting the quality of being able to be.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: non-con-temp-ti-bil-i-ty. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ity, -able, -ible, etc., unless overridden by other factors (like long vowels or complex consonant clusters).

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑn kənˈtɛmptɪˈbɪlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-pt-" is a relatively common consonant cluster in English and doesn't present a significant syllabification challenge. The multiple suffixes also don't create unusual edge cases.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Noncontemptibility" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if it were to function as another part of speech, as it is not inflected.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of not being subject to contempt; undeserving of scorn.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: respectability, dignity, worthiness
• Antonyms: contemptibility, scornfulness, disgrace
• Example Usage: "Her actions demonstrated a level of noncontemptibility that earned her the respect of her peers."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar syllable structure, stress on the third syllable. The initial consonant cluster differs, but the -ibility suffix behaves identically.
• Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty. Again, the -ibility suffix dictates stress and syllabification. The initial syllables differ, but the final portion is consistent.
• Contemptuousness: con-tempt-u-ous-ness. Shares the root "contempt" and exhibits a similar pattern of affixation, though the suffix is different. Stress falls on the second syllable, demonstrating the influence of the suffix.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant (VC) Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant (e.g., non-con).
2. Stress Placement: Stress is often placed on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ity, -able, -ible (e.g., temp-ti-bil-i-ty).
3. Consonant Cluster Division: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they are easily separable (e.g., -pt- remains in "tempt").

Special Considerations:

The length of the word and the multiple suffixes require careful attention to stress placement. The vowel sounds in the unstressed syllables are reduced (schwa /ə/ or /ɪ/).

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents the most common US English pronunciation, slight variations may occur in different regional accents. For example, some speakers might reduce the vowel in "non" to a schwa. This would not significantly alter the syllable division.