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Hyphenation ofoverindividualistic

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

o-ver-in-di-vid-u-a-list-ic

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

/ˌoʊvərˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuːəˈlɪstɪk/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00010001

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('list'). The other syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

o-ver/ˈoʊ.vər/

Open syllable, unstressed.

in-di/ˈɪn.di/

Open syllable, unstressed.

vid-u/ˈvɪd.juː/

Open syllable, unstressed.

a-list/ə.ˈlɪst/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

ic/ˈɪstɪk/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

over-(prefix)
+
individual-(root)
+
-istic(suffix)

Prefix: over-

Old English, intensifying prefix

Root: individual-

Latin *individuus* - undivided

Suffix: -istic

Greek *-istikos* via French, adjective forming suffix

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Excessively concerned with oneself or one's own interests; excessively independent or self-reliant.

Examples:

"His overindividualistic tendencies made it difficult for him to work in a team."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Individualisticin-di-vid-u-a-list-ic

Shares the root 'individual' and suffix '-istic', similar stress pattern.

Democraticdem-o-crat-ic

Similar vowel-consonant alternation and suffix '-ic'.

Characteristicchar-ac-ter-is-tic

Shares the suffix '-istic', similar syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime Division

Syllables are divided between the onset (initial consonants) and the rime (vowel and following consonants).

Consonant-Vowel Division

When a consonant cluster follows a vowel, the syllable is divided between the vowel and the consonant cluster.

Special Considerations

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

The length of the word and the presence of multiple morphemes can lead to alternative, though less common, syllabifications.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation may affect the precise phonetic realization of the syllables.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'overindividualistic' is divided into eight syllables: o-ver-in-di-vid-u-a-list-ic. It consists of the prefix 'over-', the root 'individual-', and the suffix '-istic'. Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('list'). Syllabification follows standard English onset-rime and consonant-vowel division rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "overindividualistic"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "overindividualistic" is a complex adjective in English (US) pronunciation. It consists of multiple morphemes and presents challenges in syllabification due to its length and consonant clusters. The pronunciation involves a relatively even distribution of stress, with a primary stress on the penultimate syllable.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: over- (Old English) - intensifying prefix.
  • Root: individual- (Latin individuus - undivided) - denoting a single person or unit.
  • Suffix: -istic (Greek -istikos via French) - forming adjectives denoting a characteristic or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: o-ver-in-di-vid-u-a-list-ic.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌoʊvərˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuːəˈlɪstɪk/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

  • o-ver: /ˈoʊ.vər/ - Rule: Onset-Rime division. 'v' is a sonorant, allowing it to form a syllable onset with 'o'. Exception: The 'er' can sometimes be considered a weak syllable.
  • in-di: /ˈɪn.di/ - Rule: Onset-Rime division. 'n' forms the onset, 'di' the rime.
  • vid-u: /ˈvɪd.juː/ - Rule: Onset-Rime division. 'v' forms the onset, 'id' the rime. 'u' is a glide forming a syllable with the vowel.
  • a-list: /ə.ˈlɪst/ - Rule: Onset-Rime division. 'l' forms the onset, 'ist' the rime. This syllable receives primary stress.
  • ic: /ˈɪstɪk/ - Rule: Consonant-Vowel division. 'i' is the vowel, 'st' the consonant cluster forming the coda.

7. Edge Case Review:

The word's length and multiple morphemes create potential ambiguity. The division in-di-vid-u-a could also be considered, but vid-u is more common due to the vowel glide.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Overindividualistic" primarily functions as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Excessively concerned with oneself or one's own interests; excessively independent or self-reliant.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: Self-centered, egoistic, individualistic, selfish.
  • Antonyms: Altruistic, selfless, communal, cooperative.
  • Examples: "His overindividualistic tendencies made it difficult for him to work in a team."

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables (e.g., /ˌoʊvərˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuːəˈlɪstɪk/ becoming /ˌoʊvərˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuːəˈlɪstɪk/). This doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • Individualistic: in-di-vid-u-a-list-ic - Similar structure, stress on 'list'.
  • Democratic: dem-o-crat-ic - Similar vowel-consonant alternation, stress on 'crat'.
  • Characteristic: char-ac-ter-is-tic - Similar suffix '-istic', stress on 'ter'.

The differences in syllable division arise from the varying prefixes and root lengths. "Overindividualistic" has a longer prefix and root, leading to more syllables.

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

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.