Hyphenation ofquasi-reasonable

Linguistic Analysis of "quasi-reasonable"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "quasi-reasonable" is pronounced as /ˈkweɪzi ˈriːznəbl̩/ in General American English. It exhibits a complex syllable structure due to the prefix "quasi-" and the inherent structure of "reasonable."

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: quasi-rea-son-a-ble.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: quasi- (Latin, meaning "as if," "somewhat," or "apparently"). Morphological function: degree modifier.
• Root: reason- (Latin ratio, meaning "account," "calculation," "judgment"). Morphological function: core meaning relating to logic or justification.
• Suffix: -able (Latin -abilis, meaning "capable of"). Morphological function: adjective formation, indicating capability or susceptibility.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: rea-SON-a-ble. The first syllable, "quasi-", receives secondary stress.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈkweɪzi ˈriːznəbl̩/

6. Edge Case Review:

The "quasi-" prefix can sometimes be pronounced with a slightly reduced vowel sound, but the standard pronunciation maintains a clear /kweɪ/ diphthong. The final syllable "-ble" is often syllabic, as indicated by the IPA symbol /l̩/.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Quasi-reasonable" functions as an adjective. The syllabification and stress pattern remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Appearing to be reasonable but not truly so; somewhat reasonable.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: seemingly reasonable, apparently reasonable, superficially reasonable
• Antonyms: unreasonable, illogical, absurd
• Examples: "His explanation was quasi-reasonable, but I still didn't believe him." "The policy seemed quasi-reasonable on the surface, but had hidden drawbacks."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Possible: /ˈpɑːsɪbl̩/ - Syllable division: pos-si-ble. Similar structure with a prefix and suffix. Stress on the second syllable.
• Credible: /ˈkrɛdəbl̩/ - Syllable division: cred-i-ble. Similar suffix "-ble" and syllabic consonant. Stress on the first syllable.
• Visible: /ˈvɪzɪbl̩/ - Syllable division: vis-i-ble. Similar suffix "-ble" and syllabic consonant. Stress on the first syllable.

The consistent use of the "-able" suffix and the syllabic consonant /l̩/ in these words demonstrate a common phonological pattern in English adjective formation. The difference in stress placement is due to the varying weight and prominence of the prefixes and roots.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel Rule: Every syllable must contain a vowel sound.
2. Vowel-C Rule: Syllables are often formed around a vowel followed by a consonant.
3. Vowel-CVC Rule: Syllables can be formed around a vowel followed by two consonants.
4. CVC Rule: Syllables can be formed around a consonant-vowel-consonant structure.
5. Syllabic Consonant Rule: /l/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/ can form a syllable nucleus when following a consonant.

Special Considerations:

The prefix "quasi-" presents a slight challenge due to its non-native origin and potential for reduced pronunciation. However, the standard pronunciation maintains a clear syllable boundary. The syllabic /l/ in "-ble" is a common feature of English phonology but requires careful transcription.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "quasi-" to /kwəzi/, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.

Short Analysis:

"Quasi-reasonable" is a four-syllable adjective (quasi-rea-son-a-ble) with primary stress on the third syllable (son). It's formed from the Latin prefix "quasi-", the root "reason", and the suffix "-able". The final syllable contains a syllabic /l/. Syllabification follows standard English vowel-based rules, with consideration for the syllabic consonant.