Hyphenation ofself-complacence

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-complacence" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation involves a blend of vowel sounds, consonant clusters, and a secondary stress.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-com-pla-cence

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the action is performed by the subject.
• Root: plac- (Latin placere - to please) - meaning "to please" or "to be agreeable."
• Suffix: -ence (Latin -entia) - noun-forming suffix indicating a state or quality.
• Interfix: com- (Latin com- - with, together) - often used to intensify or modify the root.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: com-pla-cence. A secondary stress is present on the first syllable: self-com-pla-cence.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌself kəmˈpleɪsəns/

6. Edge Case Review:

The combination of consonant clusters (e.g., -mpl-) and the presence of multiple morphemes can create ambiguity in syllabification. However, the principle of maximizing onsets (placing consonants with the following vowel) is applied here.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-complacence" functions primarily as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context, as it is not inflected.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: A state of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: self-satisfaction, smugness, complacency, self-regard
• Antonyms: humility, dissatisfaction, discontent
• Example Usage: "His self-complacence was irritating to those who were still working hard."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Confidence: con-fi-dence - Similar syllable structure, with stress on the second syllable. The 'con-' prefix is common.
• Intelligence: in-tel-li-gence - Four syllables, similar suffix '-ence'. Stress on the second syllable.
• Appearance: ap-pear-ance - Three syllables, similar suffix '-ance'. Stress on the second syllable.

The key difference in "self-complacence" is the initial 'self-' prefix, adding an extra syllable and a secondary stress. The presence of the 'mpl-' consonant cluster also distinguishes it.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

• self: /self/ - Open syllable, stressed. Rule: Initial syllable, containing a vowel sound.
• com: /kəm/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by a vowel.
• pla: /pleɪ/ - Open syllable, stressed. Rule: Vowel sound followed by a consonant.
• cence: /səns/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Consonant cluster ending the syllable.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel Peak: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
2. Maximize Onsets: Consonants are generally assigned to the following vowel.
3. Consonant Clusters: Complex consonant clusters are broken according to phonotactic constraints.

Special Considerations:

The 'mpl-' cluster is a relatively uncommon but acceptable sequence in English, and its syllabification is consistent with established rules.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables (e.g., /kəm/ becoming /kə/). This would not significantly alter the syllable division.