Hyphenation ofself-commendation

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-commendation" is pronounced /ˌself kəˈmendəˌʃeɪʃən/ in General American English. It presents challenges due to the compound structure, prefixes, and multiple suffixes.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-com-men-da-tion

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix, indicating the action is performed by the subject upon itself.
• Root: commend (Latin commendare - to recommend, praise) - the core meaning of expressing approval or praise.
• Suffix: -ation (Latin) - nominalizing suffix, turning the verb "commend" into a noun denoting the act of commending.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: com-men-da-tion. Secondary stress is present on the first syllable: self-com-men-da-tion.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌself kəˈmendəˌʃeɪʃən/

6. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of the word and the presence of multiple morphemes require careful consideration. The 'e' in 'commendation' can sometimes cause ambiguity in syllabification, but the vowel sound dictates the division.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-commendation" functions primarily as a noun. While "commend" is a verb, the addition of "-ation" solidifies the noun form. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of the root verb's function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The act of praising oneself; excessive pride in one's own accomplishments.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: self-praise, boasting, self-adulation, self-glorification
• Antonyms: humility, modesty, self-deprecation
• Examples: "His constant self-commendation was irritating to his colleagues." "She avoided self-commendation, preferring to let her work speak for itself."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Recommendation: rec-om-men-da-tion - Similar syllable structure, stress on the third syllable. The initial 're-' vs. 'self-' doesn't significantly alter the syllabification pattern.
• Demonstration: dem-on-stra-tion - Similar suffix '-ation', stress on the third syllable. The initial consonant cluster differs, but the overall pattern is comparable.
• Information: in-for-ma-tion - Again, the '-tion' suffix and stress on the third syllable are consistent. The initial vowel and consonant blend are different, but the core structure is similar.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

• self: /self/ - Open syllable, containing a vowel sound followed by consonant sounds. Rule: Vowel-consonant syllables are typically separated.
• com: /kəm/ - Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Rule: Vowel-consonant syllables are typically separated.
• men: /men/ - Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Rule: Consonant clusters following vowels are often retained within a syllable.
• da: /də/ - Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Rule: Vowel-consonant syllables are typically separated.
• tion: /ʃən/ - Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Rule: Consonant clusters following vowels are often retained within a syllable.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant Syllable Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound followed by a consonant sound.
2. Consonant Cluster Retention: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable, especially when following a vowel.
3. Morpheme Boundaries: Syllable divisions often align with morpheme boundaries (prefix, root, suffix).

Special Considerations:

The compound nature of the word and the presence of multiple morphemes require careful consideration. The 'e' in 'commendation' can sometimes cause ambiguity in syllabification, but the vowel sound dictates the division.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents General American English, slight variations may occur in other dialects. For example, some speakers might reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables, potentially affecting the perceived syllable boundaries. However, the core syllabification remains consistent.