Hyphenation ofnondefensibility

Linguistic Analysis of "nondefensibility"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "nondefensibility" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a combination of vowel sounds, consonant clusters, and stress patterns.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): non-de-fen-si-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: non- (Latin origin, meaning "not"). Morphological function: negation.
• Root: defend (Latin defendere, meaning "to protect"). Morphological function: core meaning.
• Suffixes:
  • -i- (Latin origin, linking vowel). Morphological function: connects root to subsequent suffixes.
  • -bil- (Latin bilis, meaning "able to"). Morphological function: forms adjectives indicating capability.
  • -ity (Latin itas, meaning "quality of"). Morphological function: forms abstract nouns denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: de-fen-si-bil-i-ty.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑn.də.fɛn.sɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The presence of multiple suffixes and the linking vowel i create a complex syllable structure. The consonant cluster /ns/ in "defensibility" is common in English and doesn't pose a significant challenge to syllabification.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nondefensibility" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if the word were to take on another grammatical role, as it is inherently a noun.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of not being able to be defended; indefensibility.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: vulnerability, defenselessness, exposure
• Antonyms: defensibility, protectability, security
• Example Usage: "The city's nondefensibility made it a target for invasion."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar syllable structure, stress on the fourth syllable. The initial consonant cluster differs, but the suffixation pattern is identical.
• Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty. Again, the same suffixation pattern and stress placement. The root differs, but the overall structure is comparable.
• Predictability: pre-dic-ta-bil-i-ty. Similar suffixation, but the root is different. Stress falls on the third syllable, demonstrating that stress placement isn't solely determined by the suffixation.

10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

11. Division Rules Applied:

• Onset-Rime Division: The most common rule, dividing syllables based on the onset (initial consonant(s)) and rime (vowel and any following consonants).
• Vowel-Only Syllable: Syllables consisting solely of a vowel sound are considered separate syllables.
• Stress Placement: English stress is often unpredictable, but in this case, it falls on the fourth syllable due to the morphological structure and common stress patterns in words with similar suffixes.

12. Special Considerations:

The linking vowel i between defend and bility requires careful consideration. It's not a full syllable on its own but functions to connect the root and suffix smoothly. The complex suffixation also presents a challenge, requiring a clear understanding of morphological boundaries.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents the most common US English pronunciation, slight variations may occur in different regional accents. These variations are unlikely to significantly alter the syllable division.