Hyphenation ofquestion-begging

Linguistic Analysis of "question-begging" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "question-begging" is pronounced /ˌkwɛstʃən ˈbɛɡɪŋ/ in General American English. It presents challenges due to the compound structure and the presence of multiple vowel sounds.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets, is: ques-tion-beg-ging.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: question- (Latin quaestio - inquiry, asking). Morphological function: Noun acting as an adjective.
• Root: beg- (Old English began - to ask, solicit). Morphological function: Verb.
• Suffix: -ing (Old English -ing). Morphological function: Progressive aspect marker, gerund formation, or present participle.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable of "begging" (/ˈbɛɡɪŋ/). The secondary stress falls on the first syllable of "question" (/ˈkwɛstʃən/). The overall stress pattern is 0 1 0 1.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌkwɛstʃən ˈbɛɡɪŋ/

6. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of the word and the presence of the "-ing" suffix require careful consideration. The "tion" sequence is a common syllabic division point.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Question-begging" primarily functions as an adjective. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Characterized by assuming the conclusion in the premises; fallacious.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: circular, sophistical, fallacious, specious
• Antonyms: logical, sound, valid, reasonable
• Examples: "The argument was question-begging, relying on the very point it was trying to prove."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "understanding": un-der-stand-ing. Similar structure with a verb + -ing suffix. Stress pattern: 0 1 0 1.
• "heartbreaking": heart-break-ing. Similar structure with a noun + verb + -ing suffix. Stress pattern: 0 1 0 1.
• "world-shattering": world-shat-ter-ing. Compound adjective with stress on the second element. Stress pattern: 0 0 1 0. The difference here is the compound structure and the stress shift to the second element.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):

The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of stress placement. The stress on "question" is secondary, reflecting its adjectival function.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Maximizing Onsets: Prioritizing consonant clusters as onsets rather than codas.
2. Vowel-Sonorant Division: Dividing syllables after vowels followed by sonorants (l, r, m, n, ŋ).
3. Suffix Division: Recognizing common suffixes like "-ing" as separate syllables.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some regional variations might exhibit slightly different stress patterns, but the core syllabification remains consistent.