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Hyphenation ofself-controlling

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-con-trol-ling

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

/ˌsɛlf kənˈtroʊlɪŋ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0010

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('trol'). The first and second syllables are unstressed, and the fourth syllable is also unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/sɛlf/

Open syllable, unstressed.

con/kən/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

trol/troʊl/

Closed syllable, stressed.

ling/lɪŋ/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
control(root)
+
ing(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English origin, reflexive pronoun

Root: control

Latin origin (controllare), verb

Suffix: ing

Old English origin, progressive/gerundive marker

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Able to control one's own impulses, emotions, or behavior.

Examples:

"He was a remarkably self-controlling individual."

"The therapy helped her become more self-controlling."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

understandingun-der-stand-ing

Shares the '-ing' suffix and similar syllable structure.

developingde-vel-op-ing

Shares the '-ing' suffix and similar syllable structure.

overlookingo-ver-look-ing

Shares the '-ing' suffix and similar syllable structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each syllable contains at least one vowel sound.

Consonant Blend Rule

Consonant blends (lf, tr) are kept together within a syllable.

Onset-Rime Rule

Syllables are divided into onset and rime.

Special Considerations

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

The hyphenated form clarifies the syllabic structure as a compound adjective.

The /lf/ consonant cluster in 'self' is a common pronunciation and doesn't affect syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-controlling' is divided into four syllables: self-con-trol-ling. It consists of the prefix 'self-', the root 'control', and the suffix '-ing'. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('trol'). The syllabification follows standard English vowel and consonant blend rules.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-controlling" is pronounced as /ˌsɛlf kənˈtroʊlɪŋ/ in General American English. It exhibits a complex structure with a prefix, a root, and a suffix, and presents challenges in syllabification due to the presence of consonant clusters and vowel sequences.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word is divided as follows (using only original letters): self-con-trol-ling

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English). Function: reflexive pronoun used to form compound words.
  • Root: control (Latin controllare - to check, restrain). Function: verb denoting the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events.
  • Suffix: -ing (Old English). Function: progressive/gerundive marker, forming a present participle or gerund.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: con-trol-ling. This is consistent with the general rule that stress often falls on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ing, especially when the base word is stressed on the second syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsɛlf kənˈtroʊlɪŋ/

6. Edge Case Review:

The combination of /lf/ in "self" can sometimes lead to variations in pronunciation, but the syllabification remains consistent. The consonant cluster /tr/ in "control" is a common occurrence and doesn't pose a significant challenge.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-controlling" primarily functions as an adjective. As an adjective, the stress pattern remains consistent. If used as a gerund (though less common), the stress would remain on "control".

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Able to control one's own impulses, emotions, or behavior.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: disciplined, restrained, self-possessed, composed
  • Antonyms: impulsive, uncontrolled, reckless
  • Examples: "He was a remarkably self-controlling individual." "The therapy helped her become more self-controlling."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Understanding: un-der-stand-ing (4 syllables, stress on "stand"). Similar suffix "-ing", but different root structure.
  • Developing: de-vel-op-ing (4 syllables, stress on "vel"). Similar suffix "-ing", but different prefix and root.
  • Overlooking: o-ver-look-ing (4 syllables, stress on "look"). Similar suffix "-ing", but different prefix and root.

The syllable division in "self-controlling" differs due to the initial "self-" prefix, which adds an extra syllable compared to the other examples. The stress pattern also differs due to the inherent stress pattern of the root "control".

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable must contain at least one vowel sound.
  • Consonant Blend Rule: Consonant blends (like /lf/ and /tr/) are generally kept together within a syllable.
  • Onset-Rime Rule: Syllables are typically divided into an onset (initial consonant sound(s)) and a rime (vowel sound and any following consonants).
  • Stress-Timing Rule: English is a stress-timed language, meaning syllables are adjusted in duration to accommodate stressed syllables.

11. Special Considerations:

The hyphenated form "self-controlling" is a compound adjective, and the hyphen aids in readability and clarifies the syllabic structure.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/11/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.