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Hyphenation ofnonproportionally

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-pro-por-tion-al-ly

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

/ˌnɑn.proʊˈpɔːr.ʃə.nəl.i/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('tion'). 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, unstressed.

pro/proʊ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

por/pɔːr/

Open syllable, unstressed.

tion/ʃən/

Closed syllable, stressed.

al/əl/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

ly/i/

Open syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non-(prefix)
+
proportion(root)
+
-ally(suffix)

Prefix: non-

Latin origin, negation.

Root: proportion

Latin origin, relating to relative size.

Suffix: -ally

Latin origin, adverbial suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
adverb(grammatical role in sentences)

In a manner that is not proportional; not in due proportion.

Examples:

"The costs increased nonproportionally to the benefits."

"The resources were distributed nonproportionally among the departments."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

comparativelycom-par-a-tive-ly

Similar suffix structure and multiple syllables.

additionallyad-di-tion-al-ly

Similar suffix structure and multiple syllables.

occasionallyoc-ca-sion-al-ly

Similar suffix structure and multiple syllables.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each syllable contains at least one vowel sound.

Onset-Rime Rule

Syllables are divided between onset and rime.

Maximizing Onsets

Consonants are assigned to the following vowel whenever possible.

Special Considerations

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

The 'tion' syllable can exhibit vowel reduction.

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

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'nonproportionally' is divided into six syllables: non-pro-por-tion-al-ly. The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('tion'). It's an adverb formed from the root 'proportion' with the prefixes 'non-' and suffix '-ally'. Syllabification follows standard English rules of vowel presence, onset-rime structure, and maximizing onsets.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "nonproportionally"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "nonproportionally" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a mix of stressed and unstressed syllables, with a tendency towards reduced vowels in unstressed positions.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): non-pro-por-tion-al-ly

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
  • Root: proportion (Latin proportio - a proportional part) - Relating to relative size or quantity.
  • Suffix: -ally (Latin -alis + -ly) - Adverbial suffix, forming adverbs from adjectives.
  • Suffix: -tion (Latin -tio) - Nominalizing suffix, forming nouns from verbs.
  • Suffix: -al (Latin -alis) - Adjectival suffix.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: non-pro-por-tion-al-ly.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑn.proʊˈpɔːr.ʃə.nəl.i/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence of vowels and consonants presents a challenge, particularly around the "tion" syllable. The rule of maximizing onsets is applied, but vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is common.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nonproportionally" functions primarily as an adverb. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: In a manner that is not proportional; not in due proportion.
  • Grammatical Category: Adverb
  • Synonyms: disproportionately, unevenly, asymmetrically
  • Antonyms: proportionally, evenly, symmetrically
  • Examples: "The costs increased nonproportionally to the benefits." "The resources were distributed nonproportionally among the departments."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Comparatively: com-par-a-tive-ly - Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • Additionally: ad-di-tion-al-ly - Similar suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • Occasionally: oc-ca-sion-al-ly - Similar structure with multiple syllables. Stress falls on the third syllable.

The key difference in stress placement in "nonproportionally" is due to the length and complexity of the root "proportion" and the initial prefix "non-". The longer root attracts the stress.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable must contain at least one vowel sound.
  • Onset-Rime Rule: Syllables are divided between onset (initial consonants) and rime (vowel and following consonants).
  • Maximizing Onsets: Consonants are assigned to the following vowel whenever possible.
  • Complex Roots: Complex roots like "proportion" tend to maintain their internal structure during syllabification.

11. Special Considerations:

The "tion" syllable is a common point of variation. Some speakers might pronounce it as /ʃən/ while others might reduce it further to /ʃn/. The prefix "non-" is generally considered a separate syllable.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., /ɑ/ vs. /ɔ/) might occur, but these do not significantly alter the syllable division.

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

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