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Hyphenation ofnonpracticability

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-prac-ti-ca-bil-i-ty

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

/ˌnɑnˈpræktɪkəˈbɪləti/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0001001

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('ca'). The stress pattern is typical for words with multiple suffixes.

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.

prac/præk/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

ti/tɪ/

Open syllable, vowel preceded by a consonant.

ca/kə/

Open syllable, vowel preceded by a consonant.

bil/bɪl/

Open syllable, vowel followed by liquid consonant.

i/ɪ/

Open syllable, short vowel.

ty/ti/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non-(prefix)
+
practic-(root)
+
-ability(suffix)

Prefix: non-

Latin origin, meaning 'not', negation.

Root: practic-

Latin *practicus*, meaning 'practical, skilled', relating to practice.

Suffix: -ability

Latin *-abilitas*, from *abilis* meaning 'able', denotes capability.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of not being practical; the impossibility of being put into practice.

Examples:

"The nonpracticability of the plan became evident after further analysis."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

probabilitypro-ba-bi-li-ty

Shares the suffix *-ity* and similar vowel patterns.

practicabilityprac-ti-ca-bi-li-ty

Shares the root *practic-* and suffix *-ability*.

improbabilityim-pro-ba-bi-li-ty

Similar prefix *im-* and suffix *-ity*.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Coda Rule

Every syllable must contain a vowel sound. Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters can form the onset or coda of a syllable.

Vowel-Liquid Rule

A vowel followed by a liquid consonant (l, r) often forms a syllable.

Maximizing Onsets

When dividing between consonants, attempt to maximize the number of consonants in the onset of the following syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The word's length and complex morphology present challenges.

The consonant cluster '-ct-' is a common feature in English and doesn't pose a significant issue for syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'nonpracticability' is divided into seven syllables: non-prac-ti-ca-bil-i-ty. The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('ca'). It's a noun formed from the prefix 'non-', the root 'practic-', and the suffix '-ability'. Syllabification follows standard English rules, prioritizing vowel nuclei and maximizing onsets.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "nonpracticability"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "nonpracticability" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a combination of vowel sounds, consonant clusters, and stress patterns.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

non-prac-ti-ca-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin origin, meaning "not") - Negation.
  • Root: practic- (Latin practicus, meaning "practical, skilled") - Relating to practice or action.
  • Suffix: -ability (Latin -abilitas, from abilis meaning "able") - Denotes capability or potential.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: ca-bi-li-ty.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑnˈpræktɪkəˈbɪləti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The presence of consonant clusters (e.g., -ct-, -bil-) requires careful consideration. The rule of maximizing onsets is applied where possible.

7. Grammatical Role:

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

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of not being practical; the impossibility of being put into practice.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: Impracticability, unfeasibility, impossibility
  • Antonyms: Practicability, feasibility, possibility
  • Example Usage: "The nonpracticability of the plan became evident after further analysis."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Probability: pro-ba-bi-li-ty (5 syllables) - Similar suffix -ity, stress on the third syllable.
  • Practicability: prac-ti-ca-bi-li-ty (5 syllables) - Shares the root practic- and suffix -ability, stress on the fourth syllable.
  • Improbability: im-pro-ba-bi-li-ty (5 syllables) - Similar prefix im- and suffix -ity, stress on the third syllable.

The differences in syllable division are primarily due to the presence or absence of the prefix non- and the resulting vowel sequences.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
non /nɑn/ Open syllable, vowel followed by nasal consonant. Vowel-Coda rule (vowel followed by consonant forms a syllable).
prac /præk/ Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster. Consonant Cluster Rule (complex onsets are permissible).
ti /tɪ/ Open syllable, vowel preceded by a consonant. Vowel-Coda rule.
ca /kə/ Open syllable, vowel preceded by a consonant. Vowel-Coda rule.
bil /bɪl/ Open syllable, vowel followed by liquid consonant. Vowel-Liquid rule (vowel + liquid consonant forms a syllable).
i /ɪ/ Open syllable, short vowel. Vowel-Coda rule.
ty /ti/ Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Vowel-Coda rule.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Coda Rule: Every syllable must contain a vowel sound. Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei.
  2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters can form the onset or coda of a syllable, as long as the syllable contains a vowel.
  3. Vowel-Liquid Rule: A vowel followed by a liquid consonant (l, r) often forms a syllable.
  4. Maximizing Onsets: When dividing between consonants, attempt to maximize the number of consonants in the onset of the following syllable.

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology present challenges. The consonant cluster "-ct-" is a common feature in English and doesn't pose a significant issue for syllabification.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.