Hyphenation ofnonprovocativeness
Syllable Division:
non-pro-vo-ca-tive-ness
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌnɑn.proʊ.vɑ.kə.tɪv.nəs/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
100101
Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('ca'). Secondary stress falls on the first syllable ('non').
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, initial syllable.
Open syllable.
Open syllable.
Open syllable.
Closed syllable, contains a diphthong.
Closed syllable.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: non-
Latin origin, meaning 'not', functions as a negation.
Root: provoc-
Latin *provocare* - 'to call forth', meaning to incite or challenge.
Suffix: -ness
Old English *-nes*, forms nouns denoting a state or quality.
The quality or state of not being provocative; lack of tendency to arouse strong feelings or reactions.
Examples:
"Her nonprovocativeness was often mistaken for indifference."
"The diplomat's nonprovocativeness helped de-escalate the tense situation."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar structure with a root and -ness suffix, and comparable stress patterns.
Shares the '-iveness' suffix, demonstrating a similar morphological structure.
Similar structure with a root and -ness suffix, and comparable stress patterns.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel After Consonant Rule
Syllables are generally divided after a vowel when followed by a consonant.
Consonant Cluster Rule
When a consonant cluster occurs between vowels, the syllable division often occurs around the vowel, attempting to maintain onsets and codas of reasonable complexity.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The length of the word and the presence of multiple suffixes contribute to the complexity of its syllabification.
The initial 'non-' prefix is consistently treated as a separate syllable.
The pronunciation of '-tive' can vary slightly, but /tɪv/ is the standard form.
Summary:
The word 'nonprovocativeness' is syllabified as non-pro-vo-ca-tive-ness, with primary stress on the fourth syllable ('ca'). It's a noun formed from the prefix 'non-', the root 'provoc-', and the suffixes '-ative' and '-ness'. Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and consonant clusters.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "nonprovocativeness"
1. Examination & Pronunciation:
The word "nonprovocativeness" is a complex noun in English (US) pronunciation. It consists of multiple morphemes and presents challenges in syllabification due to its length and consonant clusters. The pronunciation involves a relatively even distribution of stress, with a slight emphasis on the penultimate syllable.
2. Syllable Division:
Following English syllabification rules, the word is divided as follows (using only original letters): non-pro-vo-ca-tive-ness
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: non- (Latin origin, meaning "not") - Negation.
- Root: provoc- (Latin provocare - "to call forth") - To incite, challenge, or stimulate.
- Suffix: -ative (Latin origin, forming adjectives from verbs) - Relating to or having the quality of.
- Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes from -nessu) - Forming nouns denoting a state or quality.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: non-pro-vo-ca-tive-ness. Secondary stress is present on the first syllable: non-pro-vo-ca-tive-ness.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˌnɑn.proʊ.vɑ.kə.tɪv.nəs/
6. Edge Case Review:
The consonant cluster "-voc-" can sometimes be a point of variation, but the standard pronunciation maintains the /v/ sound. The "-tive" suffix is generally pronounced as /tɪv/ rather than /tiv/.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Nonprovocativeness" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The quality or state of not being provocative; lack of tendency to arouse strong feelings or reactions.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: unoffensiveness, harmlessness, blandness, inoffensiveness
- Antonyms: provocativeness, offensiveness, inflammatory
- Examples: "Her nonprovocativeness was often mistaken for indifference." "The diplomat's nonprovocativeness helped de-escalate the tense situation."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- Aggressiveness: ag-gres-sive-ness. Similar structure with a root and -ness suffix. Stress pattern is also similar (ag-gres-sive-ness).
- Creativeness: cre-a-tive-ness. Shares the "-iveness" suffix. Stress falls on the second syllable (cre-a-tive-ness).
- Effectiveness: ef-fec-tive-ness. Similar structure with a root and -ness suffix. Stress falls on the second syllable (ef-fec-tive-ness).
The differences in stress placement are due to the varying weight and sonority of the root vowels and preceding consonants. "Nonprovocativeness" has a more complex root structure, leading to a shift in stress.
Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:
| Syllable | IPA Transcription | Description | Rule Applied | Exceptions/Special Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| non | /nɑn/ | Open syllable, initial syllable | Vowel After Consonant Rule | None |
| pro | /proʊ/ | Open syllable | Vowel After Consonant Rule | None |
| vo | /voʊ/ | Open syllable | Vowel After Consonant Rule | None |
| ca | /kə/ | Open syllable | Vowel After Consonant Rule | None |
| tive | /tɪv/ | Closed syllable | Consonant Cluster Rule (splitting around the vowel) | "-tive" can sometimes be pronounced /tiv/ in rapid speech, but /tɪv/ is standard. |
| ness | /nəs/ | Closed syllable | Consonant Cluster Rule (splitting around the vowel) | None |
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel After Consonant Rule: Syllables are generally divided after a vowel when followed by a consonant.
- Consonant Cluster Rule: When a consonant cluster occurs between vowels, the syllable division often occurs around the vowel, attempting to maintain onsets and codas of reasonable complexity.
Special Considerations:
The length of the word and the presence of multiple suffixes contribute to the complexity of its syllabification. The initial "non-" prefix is consistently treated as a separate syllable.
Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
Some regional variations might slightly alter the vowel sounds (e.g., /ɑ/ vs. /ɔ/ in "non"), but the core syllabification remains consistent.
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