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Hyphenation ofprohibition-proof

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

pro-hi-bi-tion-proof

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

/ˌproʊhɪˈbɪʃən pruːf/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0 1 0 0 1

Primary stress falls on the second syllable of 'prohibition' (bi) and the first syllable of 'proof' (pru). The stress pattern is pro-hi-**bi**-tion-**proof**.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

pro/proʊ/

Open syllable, initial syllable

hi/hɪ/

Open syllable

bi/bɪ/

Open syllable

tion/ʃən/

Syllabic consonant, closed syllable

proof/pruːf/

Open syllable, stressed

Morphemic Breakdown

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

pro-(prefix)
+
hibit(root)
+
-ion(suffix)

Prefix: pro-

Latin origin, meaning 'forward' or 'in favor of'

Root: hibit

Latin origin (habere 'to hold'), base of 'prohibit'

Suffix: -ion

Latin origin, forming nouns of action or state

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Not affected or harmed by prohibition; able to withstand or circumvent the restrictions of prohibition.

Examples:

"The speakeasy was prohibition-proof, operating secretly despite the law."

"They developed a prohibition-proof system for transporting alcohol."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

rehabilitationre-ha-bi-li-ta-tion

Similar suffix (-tion) and overall structure.

informationin-for-ma-tion

Similar suffix (-tion).

competitioncom-pe-ti-tion

Similar suffix (-tion).

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime Division

Dividing syllables based on the consonant onset and vowel-rich rime.

Consonant-Vowel Division

Separating syllables at vowel boundaries.

Syllabic Consonant Rule

Recognizing consonants that can form the nucleus of a syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The hyphenated structure reinforces the separation between 'prohibition' and 'proof'.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'prohibition-proof' is a compound adjective divided into five syllables: pro-hi-bi-tion-proof. Stress falls on the second syllable of 'prohibition' and the first syllable of 'proof'. It's morphologically composed of the prefix 'pro-', the root 'hibit', the suffix '-ion', and the root 'proof'. The hyphenated structure influences syllable perception.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "prohibition-proof"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "prohibition-proof" is a compound adjective in US English. It's pronounced with relatively clear syllable boundaries, though the hyphenated structure influences perception. The stress falls on the second syllable of "prohibition" and the first syllable of "proof".

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows (using only original letters): pro-hi-bi-tion-proof

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: pro- (Latin, meaning "forward," "in favor of," or "supporting"). Morphological function: indicates support or advocacy.
  • Root: hibit (Latin habere "to hold, have"). Morphological function: forms the base of "prohibit".
  • Suffix: -ion (Latin, forming nouns of action or state). Morphological function: nominalizes the verb "prohibit".
  • Root: proof (English, from Old English prōf meaning "test, demonstration, evidence"). Morphological function: indicates resistance to something.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable of "prohibition" and the first syllable of "proof". The stress pattern is thus: pro-hi-bi-tion-proof.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌproʊhɪˈbɪʃən pruːf/

6. Edge Case Review:

The hyphenated structure is a key consideration. Hyphens generally encourage syllable separation at the point of the hyphen. The "tion" ending is a common syllabic consonant, but in this case, it's clearly part of the "prohibition" unit.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Prohibition-proof" functions as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Not affected or harmed by prohibition; able to withstand or circumvent the restrictions of prohibition.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: impervious to prohibition, resistant to prohibition, unaffected by prohibition.
  • Antonyms: vulnerable to prohibition, susceptible to prohibition.
  • Examples: "The speakeasy was prohibition-proof, operating secretly despite the law." "They developed a prohibition-proof system for transporting alcohol."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "rehabilitation": re-ha-bi-li-ta-tion. Similar structure with suffixes (-ion). Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • "information": in-for-ma-tion. Similar suffix (-tion). Stress falls on the second syllable.
  • "competition": com-pe-ti-tion. Similar suffix (-tion). Stress falls on the second syllable.

The key difference is the compound nature of "prohibition-proof". The first part ("prohibition") has its own internal stress pattern, which influences the overall stress of the compound. The other words are single lexical items.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
pro /proʊ/ Open syllable, initial syllable Onset-Rime division None
hi /hɪ/ Open syllable Onset-Rime division None
bi /bɪ/ Open syllable Onset-Rime division None
tion /ʃən/ Syllabic consonant, closed syllable Consonant-Vowel division, Syllabic consonant rule The 't' is often silent, but it's present in the orthography.
proof /pruːf/ Open syllable, stressed Onset-Rime division None

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Onset-Rime Division: Dividing syllables based on the consonant onset and vowel-rich rime.
  2. Consonant-Vowel Division: Separating syllables at vowel boundaries.
  3. Syllabic Consonant Rule: Recognizing consonants that can form the nucleus of a syllable (e.g., /l/, /m/, /n/, /r/, /ʃ/, /t/).

Special Considerations:

The hyphenated structure is the primary special consideration. It reinforces the separation between "prohibition" and "proof" despite the compound adjective formation.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., the /oʊ/ in "pro") might exist, but they wouldn't significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.