Hyphenation ofnonmarriageableness

Linguistic Analysis of "nonmarriageableness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "nonmarriageableness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a relatively straightforward application of English phonological rules, though the length and complexity can lead to slight variations in tempo and vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): non-mar-riage-a-ble-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: non- (Latin origin, meaning "not"). Morphological function: negation.
• Root: marriage (Old French/Anglo-Norman origin, from marier "to marry"). Morphological function: core meaning relating to the state of being married.
• Suffix: -able (Latin origin, from -abilis). Morphological function: forms adjectives indicating capability or possibility.
• Suffix: -ness (Old English origin, from -nes). Morphological function: forms nouns denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: a-ble. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ness, -able, -ity, etc.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑnˈmærɪdʒəbl̩nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The presence of multiple suffixes and the relatively long sequence of consonants can create some ambiguity in perceived syllable boundaries, but the rules of English syllabification generally resolve this predictably. The syllabic consonant /l̩/ in "a-ble" is a common feature in English.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nonmarriageableness" functions solely as a noun. The 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 married; the condition of being unsuitable for marriage.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: unmarriability, unsuitability for marriage
• Antonyms: marriageability
• Example Usage: "Her nonmarriageableness was a source of concern for her family."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Understandable: un-der-stand-a-ble (4 syllables, stress on 'stand'). Similar suffix '-able', but simpler root.
• Unbreakable: un-break-a-ble (3 syllables, stress on 'break'). Similar prefix 'un-' and suffix '-able', shorter root.
• Happiness: hap-pi-ness (3 syllables, stress on 'hap'). Shares the '-ness' suffix, demonstrating a similar stress pattern in words ending with this suffix.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables often end with a vowel followed by a consonant.
2. Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (VCC): Syllables can end with a vowel followed by two consonants.
3. Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.
4. Syllabic Consonant: /l/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/ can form syllables when following a consonant.
5. Stress Placement: Stress generally falls on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ness, -able, -ity, etc.

Special Considerations:

The length of the word and the multiple suffixes could potentially lead to alternative, though less common, syllabifications. However, the provided division adheres to the most widely accepted rules of English syllabification.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "marriage" to a schwa /ə/, resulting in a pronunciation closer to /ˌnɑnˈmærɪdʒəbl̩nəs/. This variation would not significantly alter the syllable division.

Short Analysis:

"Nonmarriageableness" is a seven-syllable noun with primary stress on the fifth syllable ("a-ble"). It's formed from the prefix "non-", the root "marriage", and the suffixes "-able" and "-ness". Syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and stress placement.