Hyphenation ofself-condemningly

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-condemningly" is a complex adverb formed through multiple morphological processes. Its pronunciation involves several consonant clusters and vowel reductions, typical of English.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-con-demn-ing-ly

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating action directed towards the subject.
• Root: condemn (Latin condemnare – “to sentence to punishment”) - to express strong disapproval of; to sentence.
• Suffix: -ing (Old English) - present participle/gerund marker, forming an adjective in this case.
• Suffix: -ly (Old English) - adverbial suffix, converting the adjective "condemning" into an adverb.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: con-demn-ing-ly.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌselfkənˈdɛmnɪŋli/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-mn-" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, it's generally treated as part of the "demn" syllable. The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables (e.g., "self" to /sɛlf/ or /səlf/) is also a common feature.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-condemningly" functions solely as an adverb. There are no significant syllabification or stress shifts if the word were to hypothetically function as another part of speech, as the core morphemes and their arrangement remain constant.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: In a way that expresses strong disapproval of oneself; in a self-critical manner.
• Grammatical Category: Adverb
• Synonyms: critically, reproachfully, self-reproachfully
• Antonyms: approvingly, commendably, laudably
• Examples: "He spoke self-condemningly about his past mistakes." "She acted self-condemningly, constantly apologizing for things she hadn't done wrong."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Interestingly: in-ter-est-ing-ly – Similar structure with a prefix, root, and -ly suffix. Stress on the second syllable.
• Surprisingly: sur-pris-ing-ly – Similar structure, stress on the second syllable.
• Determiningly: de-ter-min-ing-ly – Similar structure, stress on the third syllable, like "self-condemningly". The presence of the 'r' sound influences the syllable division.

Syllable Analysis Details:

• self: /sɛlf/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
• con: /kən/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel preceded by consonant.
• demn: /dɛmn/ - Closed syllable, stressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster.
• ing: /ɪŋ/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by nasal consonant.
• ly: /li/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel preceded by consonant.

Division Rules Applied:

• Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllables are often divided before the first consonant following a vowel (e.g., "con-").
• Consonant Cluster: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable, especially when stressed (e.g., "demn-").
• Suffix Division: Suffixes are typically separated into their own syllables (e.g., "-ing", "-ly").

Special Considerations:

The "-mn-" cluster in "demn" is a relatively uncommon sequence, but it's consistently treated as a single unit within the syllable. The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a common phonetic phenomenon in English.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "self" to /səlf/. This doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.