HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofnonself-governing

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

non-self-gov-ern-ing

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

/ˌnɑnˈsɛlfˈɡʌvərnɪŋ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('gov-'). The first and last syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

non/nɑn/

Open syllable, onset 'n', rime 'an'

self/sɛlf/

Closed syllable, onset 's', rime 'elf'

gov/ˈɡʌv/

Closed syllable, onset 'g', rime 'uv', primary stress

ern/ərn/

Closed syllable, onset 'r', rime 'ən', reduced vowel

ing/ɪŋ/

Nasal coda, onset 'ŋ', vowel deletion

Morphemic Breakdown

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

non-(prefix)
+
self-govern(root)
+
-ing(suffix)

Prefix: non-

Latin origin, negation

Root: self-govern

Old English/Latin origin, pertaining to rule

Suffix: -ing

Old English origin, present participle

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Not subject to self-government; controlled by an external power.

Examples:

"The territory remained a nonself-governing region for decades."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

governinggov-ern-ing

Shares the root 'govern' and similar syllable structure.

self-controlself-con-trol

Contains the prefix 'self-' and similar CVC syllable patterns.

nonessentialnon-es-sen-tial

Shares the prefix 'non-' and similar syllable structure with multiple CVC syllables.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime

Dividing syllables based on the consonant onset and vowel-containing rime.

Sonority Sequencing Principle

Ordering consonants by sonority, with vowels forming the syllable nucleus.

Stress Assignment

Assigning stress based on syllable weight and morphological structure.

Special Considerations

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

The compound nature of the word and the presence of multiple prefixes require careful consideration.

Potential vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'nonself-governing' is divided into five syllables: non-self-gov-ern-ing. Primary stress falls on 'gov'. It's morphologically complex, consisting of the prefix 'non-', the roots 'self' and 'govern', and the suffix '-ing'. Syllabification follows standard US English rules of onset-rime division and sonority sequencing.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "nonself-governing" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "nonself-governing" presents challenges due to its complex morphology and multiple prefixes. The pronunciation involves a blend of stressed and unstressed syllables, with potential for reduction in unstressed vowels.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word is divided as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: non- (Latin, meaning "not") - Negation.
  • Root: self- (Old English, meaning "one's own person") - Pertaining to the individual.
  • Root: govern- (Old French, from Latin gubernare meaning "to steer, control") - To rule or control.
  • Suffix: -ing (Old English, gerundive/present participle) - Indicates ongoing action or state.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: gov-.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌnɑnˈsɛlfˈɡʌvərnɪŋ/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

Syllable IPA Transcription Rule Application Description Potential Exceptions
non- /nɑn/ Onset-Rime (CV) Simple onset (n) and rime (an). Vowel reduction in rapid speech.
self- /sɛlf/ Onset-Rime (CVC) Onset (s), rime (elf). Closed syllable.
gov- /ˈɡʌv/ Onset-Rime (CVC) Onset (g), rime (uv). Primary stress. Closed syllable.
ern- /ərn/ Onset-Rime (CVC) Onset (r), rime (ən). Reduced vowel.
ing /ˈɪŋ/ Onset-Rime (NC) Nasal onset (ŋ) and vowel deletion.

Syllable Division Rules Applied:

  • Onset-Rime: The most fundamental rule, dividing syllables based on the consonant onset and vowel-containing rime.
  • Sonority Sequencing Principle: Consonants are ordered by sonority (perceived loudness), with higher sonority sounds (vowels) forming the syllable nucleus.
  • Stress Assignment: Stress is assigned based on a complex interplay of factors, including syllable weight and morphological structure. In this case, the root syllable gov- receives primary stress.

7. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of the word and the presence of multiple prefixes require careful consideration. The hyphenated structure in the original word is a stylistic choice and doesn't affect the underlying syllabification.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Nonself-governing" primarily functions as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Not subject to self-government; controlled by an external power.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: dependent, controlled, subordinate, externally ruled
  • Antonyms: self-governing, autonomous, independent
  • Examples: "The territory remained a nonself-governing region for decades."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "non" to /nən/. However, the core syllabification remains the same. Regional accents could influence vowel quality but not syllable boundaries.

11. Phonological Comparison:

Word Syllables Syllable Structure
governing gov-ern-ing CVC-CVC-NC
self-control self-con-trol CVC-CVC-CVC
nonessential non-es-sen-tial CVC-CVC-CVC-CVC

All three words share similar syllable structures (CVC being dominant). The presence of prefixes (non-, self-) and suffixes (-ing, -ial) influences the syllable count and structure. The stress pattern in "governing" and "nonself-governing" is similar, falling on the root syllable. "self-control" has a more even stress distribution.

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

The hottest word splits in English (US)

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

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.