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Hyphenation ofself-aggrandized

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-ag-gran-dized

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

/ˌselfəˈɡrændaɪzd/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0010

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('gran'). The first syllable ('self') has secondary stress, while the second and fourth syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

ag/æɡ/

Closed syllable.

gran/ɡræn/

Closed syllable.

dized/daɪzd/

Closed syllable, contains a diphthong.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
grand(root)
+
ized(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: grand

Latin *grandis* - large, great.

Suffix: ized

Greek *-izein* and English -d, verb-forming suffix and past tense marker.

Meanings & Definitions
verb(grammatical role in sentences)

To enhance one's own importance or reputation, often excessively.

Examples:

"He was a self-aggrandized politician who constantly boasted about his achievements."

adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Having or showing an exaggerated opinion of one's own importance.

Examples:

"Her self-aggrandized behavior alienated her colleagues."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

magnifiedmag-ni-fied

Similar structure with a Latinate root and suffix.

terrifiedter-ri-fied

Similar structure with a Latinate root and suffix.

simplifiedsim-pli-fied

Similar structure with a Latinate root and suffix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

V-C-C Rule

When a vowel is followed by a consonant cluster, the syllable break occurs after the first consonant if it forms a valid onset.

V-C Rule

When a vowel is followed by a single consonant, the syllable break occurs after the consonant.

C-V-C Rule

When a consonant is followed by a vowel and then another consonant, the syllable break occurs after the vowel.

Special Considerations

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

The prefix 'self-' is always a separate syllable.

The vowel digraph 'ai' in 'dized' influences the syllable boundary.

The word's length and the presence of multiple morphemes contribute to its complex syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

Self-aggrandized is a four-syllable word (self-ag-gran-dized) with primary stress on the third syllable. It's formed from the prefix 'self-', the root 'grand-', and the suffixes '-ize' and '-d'. Syllabification follows standard US English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "self-aggrandized" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-aggrandized" is a complex word with multiple morphemes and potential syllabic ambiguities. Its pronunciation in US English is generally /ˌselfəˈɡrændaɪzd/.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: self-ag-gran-dized.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.
  • Root: grand- (Latin grandis - large, great) - meaning to increase or enlarge.
  • Suffix: -ize (Greek -izein) - verb-forming suffix, indicating the act of making or becoming.
  • Suffix: -d (English) - past tense marker.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: ag-gran-dized.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌselfəˈɡrændaɪzd/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "aggrand" can sometimes be a point of ambiguity, but the presence of the vowel digraph "ai" in "dized" clearly separates the syllables.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-aggrandized" primarily functions as a past-tense verb or a past participle adjective. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of grammatical role.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Having or showing an exaggerated opinion of one's own importance.
  • Grammatical Category: Verb (past tense/past participle), Adjective
  • Synonyms: conceited, arrogant, boastful, pretentious
  • Antonyms: humble, modest, unassuming
  • Examples: "He was a self-aggrandized politician who constantly boasted about his achievements." "Her self-aggrandized behavior alienated her colleagues."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Magnified: mag-ni-fied - Similar structure with a Latinate root and suffix. Stress falls on the second syllable.
  • Terrified: ter-ri-fied - Similar structure with a Latinate root and suffix. Stress falls on the second syllable.
  • Simplified: sim-pli-fied - Similar structure with a Latinate root and suffix. Stress falls on the second syllable.

The difference in stress placement in "self-aggrandized" is due to the initial prefix "self-" which creates a longer word and shifts the stress towards the root. The other words are shorter and have a more predictable stress pattern on the root syllable.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
self /self/ Open syllable, initial syllable V-C-C rule (vowel followed by consonant cluster) None
ag /æɡ/ Closed syllable V-C rule (vowel followed by consonant) None
gran /ɡræn/ Closed syllable C-V-C rule (consonant-vowel-consonant) None
dized /daɪzd/ Closed syllable V-C-C rule (vowel followed by consonant cluster) The diphthong /aɪ/ influences the syllable boundary.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. V-C-C Rule: When a vowel is followed by a consonant cluster, the syllable break occurs after the first consonant if it forms a valid onset.
  2. V-C Rule: When a vowel is followed by a single consonant, the syllable break occurs after the consonant.
  3. C-V-C Rule: When a consonant is followed by a vowel and then another consonant, the syllable break occurs after the vowel.

Special Considerations:

  • The prefix "self-" is always a separate syllable.
  • The vowel digraph "ai" in "dized" influences the syllable boundary.
  • The word's length and the presence of multiple morphemes contribute to its complex syllabification.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the first syllable (/selfə/) to a schwa (/səfə/), but this doesn't affect the syllable division.

Short Analysis:

"Self-aggrandized" is a four-syllable word (self-ag-gran-dized) with primary stress on the third syllable. It's formed from the prefix "self-", the root "grand-", and the suffixes "-ize" and "-d". Syllabification follows standard US English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/11/2025

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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.