Hyphenation ofoblong-spatulate

Analysis of "oblong-spatulate" (English - US)

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced /əˈblɒŋ.spætʃʊleɪt/.

2. Syllable Division: ob-long-spa-tu-late

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: ob- (Latin, meaning "toward," "against," or "completely"). Morphological function: alters the meaning of the root.
• Root: long (Latin, meaning "long"). Morphological function: provides the core meaning.
• Root: spatula (Latin, spatula meaning "broad, flat instrument"). Morphological function: provides the core meaning.
• Suffix: -ate (Latin, forming adjectives from nouns or verbs). Morphological function: creates an adjective.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the second syllable of the first word ("ob-long") and the second syllable of the second word ("spa-tu-late").

5. Phonetic Transcription: /əˈblɒŋ.spætʃʊleɪt/

6. Edge Case Review: Compound words like this can sometimes have flexible stress patterns, but the given pattern is the most common. The hyphenated structure reinforces the separation into two distinct prosodic units.

7. Grammatical Role: This word functions as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Having a long, narrow shape and a flattened, spatula-shaped end.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: elongated, flattened, spatula-shaped
• Antonyms: rounded, compact
• Examples: "The leaf was oblong-spatulate in shape." "The botanist described the petal as oblong-spatulate."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "oblongate": ob-long-ate. Similar syllable structure, stress on the second syllable of the first word.
• "spatulate": spa-tu-late. Identical syllable structure to the second part of the target word, stress on the second syllable.
• "elongate": e-long-ate. Similar syllable structure, stress on the second syllable. The initial vowel difference doesn't affect the syllabification rules applied.

10. Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-C Rule: Syllables are often formed around a vowel sound, with any following consonants belonging to that syllable.
2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally split to maintain onsets and codas within syllables.
3. Stress Rule: Primary stress falls on the second syllable of the first word and the second syllable of the second word.

Special Considerations:

• The hyphenated structure is crucial for accurate syllabification. Without it, the word could be misdivided.
• The compound nature of the word requires treating each part separately for stress and syllabification.
• Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly alter the vowel sounds, but the syllable division would remain consistent.

Short Analysis:

"oblong-spatulate" is a compound adjective formed from Latin roots. It is divided into five syllables: ob-long-spa-tu-late, with primary stress on the second syllable of each word. The syllabification follows standard English vowel-C and consonant cluster rules. The hyphenated structure is key to its correct analysis.