Hyphenation ofnoninflammability

Linguistic Analysis of "noninflammability"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "noninflammability" is a complex noun in US English, exhibiting multiple morphemes and a relatively long phonetic structure. Its pronunciation involves several consonant clusters and vowel reductions, typical of derived words.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): non-in-flam-ma-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: non- (Latin origin) - Negation.
• Root: flamm- (Latin flamma - flame) - Relating to fire or burning.
• Suffixes:
  • -able (Latin -abilis) - Capable of being.
  • -ity (Latin -itas) - State or quality of.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: non-in-flam-ma-bil-i-ty.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑnɪnˈflæməbɪlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "bil" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, it's clearly part of the root and maintains its integrity within the syllable. The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a common feature of English pronunciation.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Noninflammability" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The state or quality of not being capable of being ignited or burning.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: incombustibility, fireproofness
• Antonyms: flammability, combustibility
• Examples: "The building materials were chosen for their noninflammability." "Due to its noninflammability, the substance is safe for use near open flames."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Improbability: im-prob-a-bil-i-ty - Similar structure with a prefix and suffix chain. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.

The consistent stress pattern on the antepenultimate syllable in these words (with the exception of "noninflammability") highlights the influence of the "-ility" suffix in attracting stress. The prefix "non-" in "noninflammability" shifts the stress slightly forward.

10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

• non: /nɑn/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
• in: /ɪn/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel surrounded by consonants.
• flam: /flæm/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster.
• ma: /mə/ - Open syllable, stressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
• bil: /bɪl/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel surrounded by consonants.
• i: /ɪ/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel at the end of a syllable.
• ty: /ti/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.

11. Division Rules Applied:

• Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant (e.g., "in", "ma").
• Consonant Cluster Division: When consonant clusters occur, they are generally maintained within the syllable (e.g., "flam").
• Vowel-Consonant-Vowel (VCV): Syllables are often divided between vowels (e.g., "non-in").
• Suffix Separation: Suffixes are generally separated into their own syllables (e.g., "-ity").

12. Special Considerations:

The prefix "non-" is often treated as a separate syllable due to its distinct morphemic function. The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a common phonetic phenomenon in English.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "ma" to a schwa /mə/, but the syllable division remains the same. Regional accents might influence the vowel quality, but not the core syllabification.