Hyphenation ofnonextinguishable

Linguistic Analysis of "nonextinguishable"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "nonextinguishable" is an adjective meaning incapable of being extinguished. Its pronunciation in US English is complex due to the multiple consonant clusters and the prefix.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows (using only original letters): non-ex-tin-guish-a-ble

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: non- (Latin origin, meaning "not"). Morphological function: negation.
• Root: extinguish (Old French extinguer, from Latin extinguere meaning "to quench, put out"). Morphological function: core meaning of the word.
• Suffix: -able (Latin origin, -abilis). Morphological function: forms an adjective indicating capability.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: non-ex-tin-guish-a-ble. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words of this length, but is influenced by the morphological structure (the root extinguish carries the primary stress).

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑn.ɪkˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ.ə.bəl/

6. Edge Case Review:

The consonant cluster /stɪŋ/ is a common but potentially challenging sequence for some speakers. The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables (e.g., the first and last syllables) is also a typical feature of US English pronunciation.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nonextinguishable" primarily functions as an adjective. Its syllabification and stress pattern remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Not capable of being extinguished; unquenchable.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: unquenchable, inextinguishable, imperishable, undying
• Antonyms: extinguishable, quenchable, perishable, mortal
• Examples: "The flame of hope remained nonextinguishable even in the darkest times." "His passion for music was nonextinguishable."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Indistinguishable: in-dis-tin-guish-a-ble. Similar syllable structure, stress on the fourth syllable. The initial consonant cluster differs, but the overall pattern is consistent.
• Extinguishable: ex-tin-guish-a-ble. Shares the root and suffix, with a simpler prefix. Stress remains on the fourth syllable.
• Unbreakable: un-break-a-ble. Similar suffix and stress pattern. The root differs, but the overall structure is comparable.

10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

11. Division Rules Applied:

• Vowel-Consonant Rule: Syllables are often divided before a consonant that follows a vowel.
• Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable, unless they are easily separable by a vowel sound.
• Schwa Insertion: Unstressed syllables often contain the schwa sound /ə/.

12. Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex consonant clusters make it challenging to pronounce. Regional variations in vowel pronunciation might affect the precise phonetic realization of some syllables.

13. Short Analysis:

"Nonextinguishable" is a six-syllable adjective with primary stress on the fourth syllable (/ˌnɑn.ɪkˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ.ə.bəl/). It's formed from the prefix non-, the root extinguish, and the suffix -able. Syllabification follows standard English rules, prioritizing vowel-consonant divisions and maintaining consonant clusters.