Hyphenation ofnondiscriminations

Linguistic Analysis of "nondiscriminations"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "nondiscriminations" is a noun formed through multiple morphological processes. Its pronunciation in US English is relatively straightforward, though the cluster /nd/ can present slight variation.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: non- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
• Root: discrim- (Latin discriminare, meaning "to distinguish") - The core meaning of differentiation.
• Suffix: -in- (Latin, adjectival suffix) - Forms an adjective from the verb.
• Suffix: -ations (Latin, nominalizing suffix) - Converts the adjective into a noun, indicating the act or result of discriminating.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: non-dis-crim-i-na-tions.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑn.dɪsˈkrɪm.ɪˌneɪ.ʃənz/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "tions" is a common suffix and generally follows predictable syllabification. The /nd/ cluster is not particularly problematic, though some speakers might insert a slight epenthetic vowel.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nondiscriminations" 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 act or instance of not distinguishing between things; lack of discrimination.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: Indiscernment, impartiality (in some contexts), lack of selectivity.
• Antonyms: Discrimination, discernment, selectivity.
• Examples: "The judge was criticized for nondiscriminations in sentencing." "The policy aimed to eliminate nondiscriminations based on race."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Information: in-for-ma-tion (4 syllables, stress on -ma-) - Similar suffix structure (-tion), but different initial consonant cluster.
• Determination: de-ter-mi-na-tion (5 syllables, stress on -na-) - Similar suffix structure, but with a prefix and a different root.
• Communication: com-mu-ni-ca-tion (5 syllables, stress on -ca-) - Similar suffix structure, but with a different root and prefix.

The syllable division in "nondiscriminations" is consistent with these words in that the suffix "-tion" consistently forms a separate syllable. The difference in syllable count is due to the prefix "non-" and the complexity of the root "discrim-".

10. Division Rules:

• Vowel Rule: Each syllable must contain at least one vowel sound.
• Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally split to maintain pronounceability, but are kept together if they form a recognizable unit.
• Affix Rule: Prefixes and suffixes typically form separate syllables.
• Stress-Timing Rule: English is a stress-timed language, influencing syllable prominence.

11. Special Considerations:

The prefix "non-" is often treated as a separate syllable, even though it doesn't contain a vowel sound in this case. This is a common convention.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllabification.