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Hyphenation ofnoninflammableness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-in-flam-ma-ble-ness

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

/ˌnɑnɪnˈflæməbl̩nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('ma'). The other syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

non/nɑn/

Open syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant.

in/ɪn/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant.

flam/flæm/

Closed syllable, vowel preceded by consonant cluster.

ma/mə/

Open syllable, schwa vowel.

ble/bl̩/

Closed syllable with syllabic consonant.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, schwa vowel.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non-(prefix)
+
flamm-(root)
+
-ness(suffix)

Prefix: non-

Latin origin, meaning 'not', functions as a negation.

Root: flamm-

Latin origin (*flamma* meaning 'flame'), core meaning related to fire.

Suffix: -ness

Old English origin (*-nes*), noun-forming suffix denoting a state or quality.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of not being capable of being inflamed; resistance to burning.

Examples:

"The building materials were chosen for their noninflammableness."

"The noninflammableness of the asbestos made it ideal for fireproofing."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

improbabilityim-prob-a-bil-i-ty

Similar suffixation (-ity), but simpler initial structure.

unpredictabilityun-pre-dict-a-bil-i-ty

Similar prefixation and suffixation.

responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Similar suffixation.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Coda Rule

Syllables generally end in vowels or sonorants (nasals, liquids).

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they are exceptionally complex.

Syllabic Consonant Rule

/l/ can function as a syllable nucleus after a consonant.

Special Considerations

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

The word's length and complex morphology make it prone to mispronunciation.

Vowel reduction to schwa in unstressed syllables is crucial for accurate pronunciation.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'noninflammableness' is a six-syllable noun with primary stress on the fourth syllable ('ma'). It is formed from the prefix 'non-', the root 'flamm-', and the suffixes '-able' and '-ness'. Syllabification follows standard US English rules, prioritizing vowel-coda structure and maintaining consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "noninflammableness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "noninflammableness" is a complex noun in US English, exhibiting multiple morphemes and a relatively long sequence of consonants. Its pronunciation involves careful attention to vowel reduction and consonant clusters.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): non-in-flam-ma-ble-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
  • Root: flamm- (Latin flamma meaning "flame") - Core meaning related to fire.
  • Suffix: -able (Latin -abilis) - Adjectival suffix, meaning "capable of being".
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes) - Noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: non-in-flam-ma-ble-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑnɪnˈflæməbl̩nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The presence of the schwa /ə/ in unstressed syllables is common. The syllabic consonant /l̩/ in "ble" is a typical feature of US English pronunciation.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word 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 state or quality of not being capable of being inflamed; resistance to burning.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: incombustibility, fireproofness, noncombustibility
  • Antonyms: flammability, combustibility
  • Examples: "The building materials were chosen for their noninflammableness." "The noninflammableness of the asbestos made it ideal for fireproofing."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Improbability: im-prob-a-bil-i-ty (5 syllables) - Similar suffixation (-ity), but simpler initial structure. Stress on the third syllable.
  • Unpredictability: un-pre-dict-a-bil-i-ty (6 syllables) - Similar prefixation and suffixation. Stress on the fourth syllable.
  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty (6 syllables) - Similar suffixation. Stress on the third syllable.

The differences in syllable count and stress placement are due to the varying lengths and complexities of the root words and prefixes. "Noninflammableness" has a longer root and a more complex prefix than the other words, leading to a different syllable structure.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
non /nɑn/ Open syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant. Vowel-Coda Rule: Syllables end in vowels or sonorants.
in /ɪn/ Closed syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant. Vowel-Coda Rule: Syllables end in vowels or sonorants.
flam /flæm/ Closed syllable, vowel preceded by consonant cluster. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable.
ma /mə/ Open syllable, schwa vowel. Vowel-Coda Rule: Syllables end in vowels or sonorants. Vowel reduction to schwa in unstressed syllable.
ble /bl̩/ Closed syllable with syllabic consonant. Syllabic Consonant Rule: /l/ can function as a syllable nucleus after a consonant. Syllabic /l/ is a common feature of US English.
ness /nəs/ Closed syllable, schwa vowel. Vowel-Coda Rule: Syllables end in vowels or sonorants. Vowel reduction to schwa in unstressed syllable.

Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Coda Rule: Syllables generally end in vowels or sonorants (nasals, liquids).
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they are exceptionally complex.
  • Syllabic Consonant Rule: /l/ can function as a syllable nucleus after a consonant.

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology make it prone to mispronunciation and varying syllabification attempts. The schwa vowel is crucial for accurate pronunciation.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "flam" to a schwa, but the primary stress remains on the fourth syllable. Regional variations are minimal.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

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.