Hyphenation ofnonsubstantialness
Syllable Division:
non-sub-stan-tial-ness
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/nɑn.səbˈstæn.ʃəl.nəs/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
00100
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('stan'). The first, second, fourth, and fifth syllables are unstressed.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, single vowel sound.
Closed syllable, vowel surrounded by consonants.
Closed syllable, vowel surrounded by consonants, primary stress.
Closed syllable, vowel surrounded by consonants.
Closed syllable, vowel surrounded by consonants.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: non-
Old English, negating prefix meaning 'not'.
Root: substance
Latin *substantia*, meaning 'that which stands under'.
Suffix: -ial
Latin *-alis*, adjectival suffix.
The quality or state of lacking substance, solidity, or importance; insubstantiality.
Examples:
"The rumors were based on the nonsubstantialness of hearsay."
"He dismissed her concerns as mere nonsubstantialness."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar suffix structure and multiple syllables.
Similar prefix and suffix structure.
Similar suffix structure.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel After Consonant Rule
A vowel following a consonant typically forms a new syllable.
Consonant Cluster Rule
Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.
Vowel Between Consonants Rule
A vowel between two consonants typically forms a syllable.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The prefix 'non-' is consistently treated as a separate syllable.
The '-tial' sequence is a common English syllable structure.
Regional variations in pronunciation might affect vowel realization but not syllable division.
Summary:
Nonsubstantialness is a five-syllable noun (non-sub-stan-tial-ness) with primary stress on 'stan'. It's formed from the prefix 'non-', root 'substance', and suffixes '-ial' and '-ness', following standard English syllabification rules based on vowel-consonant patterns.
Detailed Analysis:
Analysis of "nonsubstantialness"
1. Pronunciation: The word "nonsubstantialness" is pronounced /nɑn.səbˈstæn.ʃəl.nəs/ in General American English.
2. Syllable Division: non-sub-stan-tial-ness
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: non- (Old English) - negating prefix, meaning "not".
- Root: substance (Latin substantia - "that which stands under") - the essential nature of a thing.
- Suffix: -ial (Latin -alis) - adjectival suffix, forming adjectives from nouns.
- Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes) - noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.
4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /nɑn.səbˈstæn.ʃəl.nəs/.
5. Phonetic Transcription: /nɑn.səbˈstæn.ʃəl.nəs/
6. Edge Case Review: The prefix "non-" often creates a syllable on its own, as it does here. The sequence "-tial-" is a common syllable structure in English.
7. Grammatical Role: "Nonsubstantialness" 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 lacking substance, solidity, or importance; insubstantiality.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: immateriality, unreality, ephemerality, fragility
- Antonyms: substantiality, reality, tangibility, solidity
- Examples: "The rumors were based on the nonsubstantialness of hearsay." "He dismissed her concerns as mere nonsubstantialness."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- Immateriality: im-ma-te-ri-al-i-ty. Similar syllable structure with multiple suffixes. Stress falls on the 'te' syllable.
- Unreality: un-re-al-i-ty. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress falls on the 'al' syllable.
- Fragility: frag-il-i-ty. Similar suffix structure. Stress falls on the 'il' syllable.
The differences in stress placement are due to the varying weight and sonority of the vowel sounds within each word. "Nonsubstantialness" has a longer root syllable ("stan") which attracts the stress.
Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:
| Syllable | IPA Transcription | Description | Rule Applied | Exceptions/Special Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| non | /nɑn/ | Open syllable, consisting of a vowel preceded by a consonant. | Vowel After Consonant Rule | None |
| sub | /sʌb/ | Closed syllable, consisting of a vowel preceded and followed by consonants. | Consonant Cluster Rule | None |
| stan | /stæn/ | Closed syllable, consisting of a vowel preceded and followed by consonants. | Consonant Cluster Rule | None |
| tial | /ʃəl/ | Closed syllable, consisting of a vowel preceded and followed by consonants. | Vowel Between Consonants Rule | The 't' is often reduced or elided in rapid speech. |
| ness | /nəs/ | Closed syllable, consisting of a vowel preceded and followed by consonants. | Vowel Between Consonants Rule | None |
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel After Consonant Rule: A vowel following a consonant typically forms a new syllable.
- Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are easily separable based on sonority.
- Vowel Between Consonants Rule: A vowel between two consonants typically forms a syllable.
Special Considerations:
- The prefix "non-" is consistently treated as a separate syllable.
- The "-tial" sequence is a common English syllable structure.
- Regional variations in pronunciation might affect the precise realization of vowel sounds, but not the core syllable division.
Short Analysis:
"Nonsubstantialness" is a complex noun formed from a prefix, root, and two suffixes. It is divided into five syllables: non-sub-stan-tial-ness, with primary stress on the third syllable ("stan"). The syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and morphemic boundaries. The word's structure reflects its Latin and Old English origins.
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