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Hyphenation ofnonintelligently

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-in-tel-li-gent-ly

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

/nɑnɪnˈtɛlədʒəntli/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

001000

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('tel'), following the rule that stress often falls on the penultimate syllable when the final syllable is weak.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

non/nɑn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

in/ɪn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

tel/tɛl/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

li/lɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

gent/dʒənt/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

ly/li/

Open syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non-(prefix)
+
tell(root)
+
-intelli-gent-ly(suffix)

Prefix: non-

Latin origin, negation.

Root: tell

Proto-Germanic origin, meaning 'to count, relate'.

Suffix: -intelli-gent-ly

Latin and Old English origins, forming an adverb of manner.

Meanings & Definitions
adverb(grammatical role in sentences)

In a manner lacking understanding or intelligence; in an unintelligent way.

Examples:

"He acted nonintelligently by investing all his money in a risky venture."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Interestinglyin-ter-est-ing-ly

Similar structure with a root and suffixes, adverbial formation.

Importantlyim-por-tant-ly

Similar structure with a root and suffixes, adverbial formation.

Generallygen-er-al-ly

Similar structure with a root and suffixes, adverbial formation.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are often split, but attempts are made to keep affixes intact.

Stress-Timing Rule

English is a stress-timed language, meaning syllables are adjusted in duration to accommodate stressed syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The prefix 'non-' is often treated as a separate syllable.

The '-ly' suffix is almost always a separate syllable.

Regional variations in the pronunciation of 'non-' (e.g., /nɔn/).

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'nonintelligently' is divided into six syllables: non-in-tel-li-gent-ly. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('tel'). It's an adverb formed from a root ('tell') with multiple prefixes and suffixes. Syllabification follows standard English vowel and consonant cluster rules, with considerations for stress timing and affix boundaries.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "nonintelligently"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "nonintelligently" is an adverb formed by adding suffixes to a root. Its pronunciation in US English is approximately /nɑnɪnˈtɛlədʒəntli/. It presents challenges due to the multiple prefixes and suffixes, and the potential for vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows (using only original letters): non-in-tel-li-gent-ly

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
  • Root: tell (Proto-Germanic talōną, meaning "to count, relate") - Core meaning of understanding or perceiving.
  • Suffix: -intelli- (Latin intellegere - to understand) - Combining form indicating intelligence.
  • Suffix: -gent (Latin agere - to do, act) - Forming an adjective meaning "acting, performing".
  • Suffix: -ly (Old English līċe - like, manner) - Adverbial suffix, indicating manner.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the syllable "-tel-". This is determined by the general rule that stress falls on the penultimate syllable when the final syllable is a weak syllable (containing a schwa /ə/).

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/nɑnɪnˈtɛlədʒəntli/

6. Edge Case Review:

The initial "non-" can sometimes be pronounced as /nɔn/ depending on regional accents. However, /nɑn/ is more common in US English. The "intelli-" portion can also be subject to slight vowel variations.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nonintelligently" functions solely as an adverb. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function, as it is a fixed form.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: In a manner lacking understanding or intelligence; in an unintelligent way.
  • Grammatical Category: Adverb
  • Synonyms: foolishly, unwisely, stupidly, irrationally
  • Antonyms: intelligently, wisely, rationally, sensibly
  • Examples: "He acted nonintelligently by investing all his money in a risky venture."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Interestingly: in-ter-est-ing-ly - Similar structure with a root and suffixes. Stress falls on "-est-".
  • Importantly: im-por-tant-ly - Similar structure, stress on "-port-".
  • Generally: gen-er-al-ly - Similar structure, stress on "-er-".

The differences in stress placement are due to the inherent stress patterns of the root morphemes and the influence of syllable weight. "-tel-" in "nonintelligently" is a heavier syllable than "-est-" or "-port-", attracting the primary stress.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable generally contains one vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often split, but attempts are made to keep affixes intact.
  • Stress-Timing Rule: English is a stress-timed language, meaning syllables are adjusted in duration to accommodate stressed syllables.

11. Special Considerations:

The prefix "non-" is often treated as a separate syllable, even though it's etymologically bound to the root. The "-ly" suffix is almost always a separate syllable.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

As mentioned, the pronunciation of "non-" can vary. Some speakers might reduce the vowel in "intelligently" to a schwa in faster speech.

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

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