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Hyphenation ofnonimmateriality

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-im-ma-te-ri-al-i-ty

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

/ˌnɑnɪməˈtɪri.æləti/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

01001000

Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('ri'). Secondary stress on the first syllable ('non').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

non/nɑn/

Open syllable, lightly stressed.

im/ɪm/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

ma/mə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

te/tɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ri/ri/

Open syllable, primary stressed.

al/ælə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

i/i/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ty/ti/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non-(prefix)
+
material(root)
+
-ity(suffix)

Prefix: non-

Latin origin, negation

Root: material

Latin *materia*, substance

Suffix: -ity

Latin *-itas*, abstract noun formation

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state of not being material; the quality of being spiritual or intellectual rather than physical.

Examples:

"The philosopher explored the nonimmateriality of consciousness."

"Her belief in the nonimmateriality of the soul provided comfort."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Immaterialityim-ma-te-ri-al-i-ty

Similar morphological structure and stress pattern.

Materialityma-te-ri-al-i-ty

Shares the root 'material' and similar suffix, differing only in the prefix.

Immobilityim-mo-bi-li-ty

Shares the 'im-' prefix and '-ity' suffix, demonstrating consistent syllabification rules.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each syllable contains at least one vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are split to maintain syllable balance.

Morphological Rule

Syllable boundaries often align with morpheme boundaries.

Special Considerations

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

The prefix 'non' and 'im' could potentially cause ambiguity, but the morphological structure clarifies the division.

Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a common phonetic phenomenon.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'nonimmateriality' is divided into eight syllables: non-im-ma-te-ri-al-i-ty. It consists of the prefix 'non-', the intensifying prefix 'im-', the root 'material', and the suffix '-ity'. Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('ri'). Syllabification follows vowel and morphological rules, with unstressed syllables exhibiting vowel reduction.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "nonimmateriality"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "nonimmateriality" presents a challenge due to its length and complex morphology. It is pronounced /ˌnɑnɪməˈtɪri.æləti/ (General American). The pronunciation involves several vowel reductions and a secondary stress.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllable division rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): non-im-ma-te-ri-al-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin origin, meaning "not"). Morphological function: negation.
  • Root: material (Latin materia meaning "matter, substance"). Morphological function: core meaning relating to physical substance or importance.
  • Suffix: -ity (Latin -itas). Morphological function: forms abstract nouns denoting a state or quality.
  • Infix: im- (Latin origin, intensifying prefix). Morphological function: intensifier.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: ri. The secondary stress falls on the first syllable: non. This is typical for words with multiple prefixes and suffixes.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑnɪməˈtɪri.æləti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "imm" can sometimes be a point of ambiguity, but in this case, the clear morphological structure (prefix im- attached to material) resolves the issue. The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a common feature of English pronunciation.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nonimmateriality" functions exclusively as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its role within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state of not being material; the quality of being spiritual or intellectual rather than physical.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: immateriality, spirituality, incorporeality
  • Antonyms: materiality, physicality, tangibility
  • Examples: "The philosopher explored the nonimmateriality of consciousness." "Her belief in the nonimmateriality of the soul provided comfort."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Immateriality: im-ma-te-ri-al-i-ty. Similar structure, stress on 'ri'.
  • Materiality: ma-te-ri-al-i-ty. Stress on 'ri', simpler prefix structure.
  • Immobility: im-mo-bi-li-ty. Stress on 'bi', different vowel sounds and root.

The syllable division rules are consistently applied across these words, with stress placement determined by the number of syllables and morphological structure. The presence of prefixes and suffixes dictates the syllable boundaries.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable must contain at least one vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally split to maintain syllable onset and coda balance.
  • Morphological Rule: Syllable boundaries often align with morpheme boundaries.
  • Stress Rule: Stress influences syllable prominence and can affect vowel reduction.

11. Special Considerations:

The prefix "non" and "im" can sometimes cause ambiguity, but the morphological structure of the word clarifies the syllable division. The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a common phonetic phenomenon in English.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "al" to /əl/, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllable division. Regional accents might affect vowel quality but not the core syllabic structure.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.