Hyphenation ofself-collectedness

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-collectedness" presents a complex syllabic structure due to its length and multiple morphemes. Pronunciation varies slightly, but generally follows standard US English phonological rules.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-col-lect-ed-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the action is performed by the subject.
• Root: collect (Latin colligere - to gather) - the core meaning of bringing things together.
• Suffix: -ed (Old English) - past tense marker.
• Suffix: -ness (Old English) - noun-forming suffix denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: col-lect-ed-ness. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ness, but is influenced by the root word "collect".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌselfkəˈlɛktɪdnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "lect" can sometimes be a point of variation, with some speakers reducing the vowel to a schwa. However, the full vowel /ɛ/ is more common in careful speech. The "self-" prefix can sometimes be pronounced as /sɛlf/ or /sɛlv/.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-collectedness" functions primarily as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function, as it is a derived noun.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The state of being composed and calm, especially in a difficult situation; composure; self-possession.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: composure, equanimity, serenity, self-control
• Antonyms: agitation, discomposure, panic, fluster
• Examples: "Her self-collectedness during the crisis was admirable." "He maintained a remarkable degree of self-collectedness despite the bad news."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar suffix structure (-ness), stress on the penultimate syllable.
• forgetfulness: for-get-ful-ness - Similar suffix structure (-ness), stress on the penultimate syllable.
• effectiveness: ef-fec-tive-ness - Similar suffix structure (-ness), stress on the antepenultimate syllable due to the root's stress pattern.

The difference in stress placement in "self-collectedness" compared to "effectiveness" is due to the inherent stress pattern of the root word "collect" versus "effect". "Collect" naturally attracts stress on the second syllable, influencing the overall stress pattern of the compound word.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Onset-Rime: Syllables are divided based on the onset (initial consonant(s)) and rime (vowel and following consonants).
2. Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel, especially when followed by a consonant.
3. Consonant Cluster Division: When consonant clusters occur, they are generally maintained within the same syllable unless a vowel intervenes.

Special Considerations:

• The compound nature of the word (prefix + root + suffixes) requires careful consideration of morphemic boundaries.
• The potential for vowel reduction in unstressed syllables (e.g., "lect" to /ləkt/) is a common feature of US English pronunciation.
• Regional variations in pronunciation may affect syllable division, particularly in the pronunciation of the "self-" prefix.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers may pronounce "self" as /sɛlv/, which would slightly alter the syllable division perception, but not the core syllabic structure.