Hyphenation ofobstreperousness

Linguistic Analysis of "obstreperousness" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "obstreperousness" is a relatively complex word with multiple syllables and potential points of syllabic division. It features consonant clusters and vowel combinations that require careful consideration of English syllabification rules.

2. Syllable Division:

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

ob-strep-er-ous-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: ob- (Latin, meaning "against," "toward," or "completely"). Morphological function: modifies the meaning of the root.
• Root: streper- (Latin strepitus meaning "noise," "clatter," "tumult"). Morphological function: carries the core meaning of the word.
• Suffix: -ous (Latin, forming adjectives meaning "full of"). Morphological function: creates an adjective from the root.
• Suffix: -ness (Old English, forming nouns denoting a state or quality). Morphological function: creates a noun from the adjective.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: ob-strep-er-ous-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɒbˈstrɛpərəsˌnɛs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The "er" in "streper" can sometimes be a weak syllable, but in this case, it receives secondary stress due to the length of the word and the need to maintain rhythmic balance. The final "-ness" is a common suffix and doesn't present any unusual syllabification challenges.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Obstreperousness" functions solely as a noun. As a noun, the stress pattern remains consistent. If a verb form existed (which it doesn't), stress might shift, but this is irrelevant for this analysis.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Uncontrolled, noisy, and difficult to restrain; clamorous.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: rowdiness, turbulence, wildness, boisterousness
• Antonyms: calmness, quietness, orderliness, composure
• Examples: "The children's obstreperousness disrupted the library." "The protest was marked by periods of obstreperousness."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Dangerous: dan-ger-ous. Similar syllable structure with a stress on the second-to-last syllable. The "-ous" suffix is shared, but the initial consonant cluster differs.
• Numerous: nu-mer-ous. Again, shares the "-ous" suffix and a similar stress pattern. The initial syllable is simpler.
• Boisterousness: bois-ter-ous-ness. Very similar structure, sharing the "-ousness" suffix. The initial consonant cluster is different, but the overall syllabic pattern is comparable.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):

The length of the word and the presence of multiple suffixes contribute to its complexity. However, the syllabification follows standard English rules without major exceptions.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables typically end in a vowel sound.
2. Consonant-Vowel (CV): Syllables often begin with a consonant sound.
3. Consonant Cluster-Vowel-Consonant (CCVC): Handling consonant clusters at the beginning or end of syllables.
4. Suffix Rule: Suffixes generally form separate syllables.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the first syllable (/ɒb/ to /əb/), but this doesn't significantly alter the syllabification. Regional accents might affect vowel quality, but the syllable boundaries remain consistent.