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Hyphenation ofself-containedly

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-con-tain-ed-ly

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

/ˌself kənˈteɪnɪdli/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('tain'). The first syllable ('self') has secondary stress, while the remaining syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant(s).

con/kən/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

tain/teɪn/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster, primary stress.

ed/ɪd/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ly/li/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self-(prefix)
+
contain(root)
+
-edly(suffix)

Prefix: self-

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: contain

Latin *continere* - to hold together.

Suffix: -edly

Old English -lic, -līce, adverbial suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
adverb(grammatical role in sentences)

In a manner that is self-sufficient or independent; without external help or control.

Examples:

"The system operated self-containedly for several weeks."

"The island community lived self-containedly, relying on its own resources."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

immediatelyim-me-di-ate-ly

Similar syllable structure and stress pattern.

eventuallyev-en-tu-al-ly

Similar syllable structure and stress pattern.

occasionallyoc-ca-sion-al-ly

Similar syllable structure and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Syllables are generally divided around vowels.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are often split, but in this case, they remain within the syllable.

Stress Rule

Stress influences syllable prominence and can affect vowel reduction.

Special Considerations

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

The 'self-' prefix is often treated as a single morpheme and syllable.

The '-edly' suffix is a common adverbial suffix, and its syllabification is relatively consistent.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-containedly' is divided into five syllables: self-con-tain-ed-ly. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('tain'). The word is morphologically complex, consisting of the prefix 'self-', the root 'contain', and the suffix '-edly'. The syllabification follows standard English vowel and consonant cluster rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "self-containedly"

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced /ˌself kənˈteɪnɪdli/ in General American English.

2. Syllable Division: self-con-tain-ed-ly

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the subject is also the object of the action.
  • Root: contain (Latin continere - to hold together) - to include or hold.
  • Suffix: -edly (Old English -lic, -līce) - adverbial suffix forming adverbs from adjectives.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the third syllable, "tain".

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌself kənˈteɪnɪdli/

6. Edge Case Review: The presence of the compound word "self-" and the multiple suffixes can create ambiguity. However, the standard rules of English syllabification apply consistently.

7. Grammatical Role: The word functions solely as an adverb. Syllabification does not shift based on grammatical role.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: In a manner that is self-sufficient or independent; without external help or control.
  • Grammatical Category: Adverb
  • Synonyms: independently, autonomously, self-sufficiently
  • Antonyms: dependently, externally
  • Examples: "The system operated self-containedly for several weeks." "The island community lived self-containedly, relying on its own resources."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Immediately: im-me-di-ate-ly - Similar syllable structure, stress on the third syllable.
  • Eventually: ev-en-tu-al-ly - Similar syllable structure, stress on the third syllable.
  • Occasionally: oc-ca-sion-al-ly - Similar syllable structure, stress on the third syllable.

The consistent stress pattern on the third syllable in these words suggests a common rhythmic pattern in English adverbs formed with suffixes like "-ly".

Detailed Syllable Breakdown:

  • self: /self/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: The 'l' is often syllabified with the vowel, but here it remains with the following consonant cluster.
  • con: /kən/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
  • tain: /teɪn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Primary stress.
  • ed: /ɪd/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
  • ly: /li/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.

Syllable Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel Rule: Syllables are generally divided around vowels.
  2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often split, but in this case, they remain within the syllable.
  3. Stress Rule: Stress influences syllable prominence and can affect vowel reduction.

Special Considerations:

  • The "self-" prefix is often treated as a single morpheme and syllable, even though it contains a vowel.
  • The "-edly" suffix is a common adverbial suffix, and its syllabification is relatively consistent.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided transcription is standard, some regional variations might exist in vowel quality or stress placement, but these variations would not significantly alter the syllable division.

Short Analysis:

The word "self-containedly" is divided into five syllables: self-con-tain-ed-ly. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ("tain"). The word is morphologically complex, consisting of the prefix "self-", the root "contain", and the suffix "-edly". The syllabification follows standard English vowel and consonant cluster rules.

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.