Hyphenation ofself-contracting
Syllable Division:
self-con-tract-ing
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˈself.kən.trækt.ɪŋ/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
1000
Primary stress falls on the first syllable ('self').
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, stressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: self
Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.
Root: contract
Latin *contractus*, past participle of *contrahere* – to draw together.
Suffix: ing
Old English *-ing(u)*, progressive/gerundive suffix.
Capable of or tending to contract or draw together on its own; diminishing or reducing in size or extent without external force.
Examples:
"The material is self-contracting when exposed to heat."
"A self-contracting bandage provides consistent pressure."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar structure with a prefix and compound root.
Similar prefix, different root structure.
Shares the same root 'contract', demonstrating consistent syllabification.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Onset-Rime Division
Separating the syllable into its onset (initial consonants) and rime (vowel and following consonants).
Vowel-Consonant Division
Dividing syllables after a vowel sound, especially when followed by a consonant.
Consonant Cluster Division
Handling consonant clusters by grouping them with the following vowel.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
Compound word with a prefix.
Schwa reduction in unstressed syllables.
Standard syllabification despite the 'tract' consonant cluster.
Summary:
The word 'self-contracting' is divided into four syllables: self-con-tract-ing. The primary stress falls on the first syllable ('self'). It's morphologically composed of the prefix 'self-', the root 'contract', and the suffix '-ing'. Syllabification follows standard English rules of onset-rime division and vowel-consonant separation.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "self-contracting" (US English)
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "self-contracting" presents a complex syllabic structure due to the compound nature of its formation and the presence of multiple consonant clusters. The pronunciation is generally /ˈself.kən.trækt.ɪŋ/.
2. Syllable Division:
Following US English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: self-con-tract-ing.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating performance of an action on oneself.
- Root: contract (Latin contractus, past participle of contrahere – to draw together) - to decrease in size, number, or range; to reduce.
- Suffix: -ing (Old English -ing(u)) - progressive/gerundive suffix indicating ongoing action or a noun formed from a verb.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the first syllable: self. The stress pattern is 1000.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˈself.kən.trækt.ɪŋ/
6. Edge Case Review:
The consonant cluster "-tract" can sometimes be a point of variation, but the division "tract" is standard. The schwa sound /ə/ in "con" is common in unstressed syllables.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Self-contracting" primarily functions as an adjective. As an adjective, the stress pattern remains consistent. It can also function as a present participle, but the syllabification and stress remain unchanged.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: Capable of or tending to contract or draw together on its own; diminishing or reducing in size or extent without external force.
- Grammatical Category: Adjective (primarily), Present Participle
- Synonyms: shrinking, reducing, diminishing, compressing
- Antonyms: expanding, enlarging, increasing
- Examples: "The material is self-contracting when exposed to heat." "A self-contracting bandage provides consistent pressure."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- self-respecting: self-re-spect-ing. Similar structure with a prefix and compound root. Stress on the first syllable is consistent.
- self-sufficient: self-su-ffi-cient. Similar prefix, but different root structure. Stress on the first syllable is consistent.
- contracting: con-tract-ing. The root "contract" is the same, demonstrating consistent syllabification of that portion of the word.
10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:
Syllable | IPA Transcription | Description | Rule Applied | Exceptions/Special Cases |
---|---|---|---|---|
self | /self/ | Open syllable, stressed | Onset-Rime division, stress assignment | None |
con | /kən/ | Closed syllable, unstressed | Vowel-Consonant division | Schwa reduction common |
tract | /trækt/ | Closed syllable, unstressed | Consonant Cluster division | Potential variation in pronunciation of "tr" cluster, but standard division |
ing | /ɪŋ/ | Closed syllable, unstressed | Vowel-Consonant division | Common suffix, consistent syllabification |
11. Division Rules Applied:
- Onset-Rime Division: Separating the syllable into its onset (initial consonants) and rime (vowel and following consonants).
- Vowel-Consonant Division: Dividing syllables after a vowel sound, especially when followed by a consonant.
- Consonant Cluster Division: Handling consonant clusters by grouping them with the following vowel.
12. Special Considerations:
The compound nature of the word and the presence of the prefix "self-" require careful consideration. The schwa sound in the unstressed syllables is a common phonetic feature of English.
13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
While the provided IPA transcription is standard, some regional variations might exhibit slight differences in vowel quality or stress intensity. However, the core syllabification remains consistent.
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