Hyphenation ofnontemperamental

Linguistic Analysis of "nontemperamental"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "nontemperamental" is pronounced /nɑnˌtɛmpərəˈmɛntəl/ in General American English. It exhibits a complex structure with multiple morphemes and potential syllabification challenges due to consonant clusters.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: non-tem-per-a-men-tal.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: non- (Latin origin, meaning "not"). Morphological function: negation.
• Root: temper- (Latin temperare, meaning "to mix, moderate"). Morphological function: core meaning related to emotional stability.
• Suffix: -a- (Latin origin, connecting vowel). Morphological function: links root to the following suffix.
• Suffix: -men- (Latin mens, meaning "mind"). Morphological function: relates to mental or emotional characteristics.
• Suffix: -tal (Latin -alis, forming adjectives). Morphological function: adjectival marker.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /nɑnˌtɛmpərəˈmɛntəl/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/nɑnˌtɛmpərəˈmɛntəl/

6. Edge Case Review:

The consonant cluster "-mper-" presents a potential challenge. However, English allows for complex onsets, and this cluster is relatively common. The vowel sequence "-era-" is also common and doesn't pose a significant issue.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Nontemperamental" functions primarily as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Not easily angered; calm; even-tempered.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: placid, serene, composed, imperturbable
• Antonyms: volatile, irascible, excitable, temperamental
• Example Usage: "He was a remarkably nontemperamental man, rarely showing any sign of frustration."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "uncomfortable": un-com-for-ta-ble. Similar prefix and complex syllable structure. Stress falls on the third syllable, differing from "nontemperamental".
• "immeasurable": im-meas-ur-a-ble. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable, differing from "nontemperamental".
• "unpredictable": un-pre-dict-a-ble. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable, differing from "nontemperamental".

The differences in stress placement are due to the varying number of syllables and the inherent rhythmic patterns of each word.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

• non: /nɑn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: The 'n' is part of the prefix.
• tem: /tɛm/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
• per: /pər/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
• a: /ə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Single vowel constitutes a syllable.
• men: /mɛn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
• tal: /təl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel Rule: Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable.
2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable, especially when forming a valid onset or coda.
3. Prefix/Suffix Rule: Prefixes and suffixes are often separated into distinct syllables.

Special Considerations:

The initial "non-" is a common prefix, and its syllabification is straightforward. The "-mper-" cluster is permissible in English, and the vowel sequence "-era-" is also common. No major exceptions were encountered.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

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