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Hyphenation ofnoncontemptuously

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-con-temp-tu-ous-ly

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

/ˌnɑn.kənˈtɛm.pjʊ.əs.li/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('tu'). The stress pattern is typical for words with multiple suffixes.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

non/nɑn/

Open syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant.

con/kən/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

temp/tɛm/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

tu/tju/

Closed syllable, diphthong followed by consonant. Primary stress.

ous/əs/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ly/li/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non-(prefix)
+
contempt(root)
+
-uous(suffix)

Prefix: non-

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

Root: contempt

Latin origin (*contemptus*), meaning 'to despise'.

Suffix: -uous

Latin origin, forms adjectives indicating possession of a quality.

Meanings & Definitions
adverb(grammatical role in sentences)

In a manner not expressing contempt; without scorn or disdain.

Examples:

"He accepted the apology noncontemptuously."

"She treated her rivals noncontemptuously, offering them a chance to collaborate."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

contemptuouslycon-temp-tu-ous-ly

Shares the same root and suffixes, differing only in the initial prefix.

contemptuouscon-temp-tu-ous

Shares the same root and suffixes, differing in the absence of the '-ly' adverbial suffix.

noncommittallynon-com-mit-tal-ly

Similar prefix and suffix structure, demonstrating comparable syllabification patterns.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Coda Rule

Syllables generally end in vowels, or consonants form a permissible coda.

Consonant Cluster Rule

English allows consonant clusters in syllable codas.

Diphthong-Coda Rule

Diphthongs can function as the nucleus of a syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The length of the word and multiple suffixes could lead to misinterpretation, but consistent application of rules resolves this.

Potential vowel reduction in the 'non' syllable in some dialects.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'noncontemptuously' is a seven-syllable adverb (non-con-temp-tu-ous-ly) with primary stress on the fourth syllable ('tu'). It's formed from the prefix 'non-', the root 'contempt', and the suffixes '-uous' and '-ly'. Syllabification follows standard English vowel-coda and consonant cluster rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "noncontemptuously"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "noncontemptuously" is a complex adverb formed through multiple morphological processes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a relatively straightforward application of English syllabification rules, though the length and complexity present challenges.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: non-con-temp-tu-ous-ly

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin origin, meaning "not"). Morphological function: negation.
  • Root: contempt (Latin contemptus, past participle of contemnere "to despise"). Morphological function: core meaning of the word.
  • Suffix: -uous (Latin origin, forming adjectives indicating possession of a quality). Morphological function: adjective formation.
  • Suffix: -ly (English origin, forming adverbs). Morphological function: adverb formation.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: non-con-temp-tu-ous-ly.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑn.kənˈtɛm.pjʊ.əs.li/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-temp-" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, the vowel sound is clearly distinct, justifying the syllable break. The "ous" syllable is a common and stable syllable structure.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Noncontemptuously" functions solely as an adverb. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if the word were to hypothetically function as another part of speech, as it is derived and fixed in its adverbial form.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: In a manner not expressing contempt; without scorn or disdain.
  • Grammatical Category: Adverb
  • Synonyms: respectfully, politely, graciously, benignly
  • Antonyms: contemptuously, scornfully, disdainfully, disrespectfully
  • Examples: "He accepted the apology noncontemptuously." "She treated her rivals noncontemptuously, offering them a chance to collaborate."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Contemptuously: con-temp-tu-ous-ly. Similar structure, but lacks the initial "non-" prefix. Stress remains on the "tu" syllable.
  • Contemptuous: con-temp-tu-ous. Shorter, lacking the "-ly" suffix. Stress remains on the "tu" syllable.
  • Noncommittally: non-com-mit-tal-ly. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress falls on the "mit" syllable, demonstrating that stress isn't solely determined by suffix position.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
non /nɑn/ Open syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant. Vowel-Coda rule (open syllable) None
con /kən/ Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Vowel-Coda rule (open syllable) None
temp /tɛm/ Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster. Consonant Cluster rule (allows consonant clusters in syllable codas) None
tu /tju/ Closed syllable, diphthong followed by consonant. Diphthong-Coda rule (diphthongs can form syllable nuclei) None
ous /əs/ Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Vowel-Coda rule (open syllable) None
ly /li/ Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Vowel-Coda rule (open syllable) None

Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Coda Rule: Syllables generally end in vowels, or if consonants are present, they form a permissible coda (syllable ending).
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: English allows consonant clusters in syllable codas, as seen in "temp".
  • Diphthong-Coda Rule: Diphthongs can function as the nucleus of a syllable.

Special Considerations:

The length of the word and the presence of multiple suffixes could lead to misinterpretations. However, the consistent application of the vowel-coda rule and the recognition of permissible consonant clusters resolve these potential issues.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the "non" syllable to /nən/, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.

Short Analysis:

"Noncontemptuously" is a seven-syllable adverb (non-con-temp-tu-ous-ly) with primary stress on the fourth syllable ("tu"). It's formed from the prefix "non-", the root "contempt", and the suffixes "-uous" and "-ly". Syllabification follows standard English vowel-coda and consonant cluster rules.

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.