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Hyphenation ofself-devotedness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-de-vot-ed-ness

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

/ˌself.dɪˈvoʊ.tɪd.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('vot'), indicated by '1'. The other syllables are unstressed ('0').

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 blend.

de/dɪ/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

vot/voʊt/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant blend.

ed/ɪd/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant blend.

ness/nəs/

Closed 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)
+
devote(root)
+
edness(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: devote

Latin *devovere* - to consecrate, dedicate.

Suffix: edness

Combination of -ed (past tense/participle) and -ness (noun-forming suffix).

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of being dedicated to oneself or one's own interests; selfless dedication.

Examples:

"Her self-devotedness to the cause was truly inspiring."

"He showed remarkable self-devotedness in caring for his ailing mother."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

self-confidenceself-con-fi-dence

Shares the 'self-' prefix and similar syllabic structure.

kindheartednesskind-heart-ed-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix and a comparable stress pattern.

thoughtfulnessthought-ful-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix and a comparable stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant

Syllables are divided after a vowel sound when followed by a consonant sound.

Consonant Blend Retention

Consonant blends are generally kept together within a syllable.

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 pronunciation of '-ed' as /ɪd/ after /t/ is a common allophonic variation.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-devotedness' is a five-syllable noun with stress on the third syllable. It's formed from 'self-', 'devote', '-ed', and '-ness'. Syllabification follows vowel-consonant rules, keeping consonant blends intact.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-devotedness" is a complex noun formed through compounding and affixation. Its pronunciation involves several potential areas of syllabic complexity, particularly around vowel clusters and consonant blends.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-de-vot-ed-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the action is performed by the subject.
  • Root: devote (Latin devovere - to consecrate, dedicate) - the core meaning of dedicating oneself to something.
  • Suffix: -ed (Old English) - past tense/participle marker, here functioning adjectivally.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English) - noun-forming suffix denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: de-vot-ed-ness. This is typical for words with the suffix "-ness" derived from an adjective.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌself.dɪˈvoʊ.tɪd.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence /voʊt/ could potentially be analyzed as a diphthong followed by a consonant, but is more commonly treated as a single vowel sound in this context. The 'ed' suffix is pronounced as /ɪd/ due to being after a /t/ sound.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-devotedness" functions solely as a noun. There are no significant syllabification or stress shifts if the word were to hypothetically function as another part of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of being dedicated to oneself or one's own interests; selfless dedication.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: selflessness, dedication, commitment, altruism
  • Antonyms: selfishness, egoism, self-centeredness
  • Examples: "Her self-devotedness to the cause was truly inspiring." "He showed remarkable self-devotedness in caring for his ailing mother."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "self-confidence": self-con-fi-dence. Similar structure with the "self-" prefix. Stress falls on "fi" as in "self-devotedness" it falls on "vot".
  • "kindheartedness": kind-heart-ed-ness. Similar suffix "-ness" and stress pattern.
  • "thoughtfulness": thought-ful-ness. Again, similar suffix and stress pattern. The difference lies in the root's complexity and vowel sounds.

10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

  • self: /self/ - Open syllable, containing a vowel followed by consonant blend. Rule: Vowel-Consonant.
  • de: /dɪ/ - Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Rule: Vowel-Consonant.
  • vot: /voʊt/ - Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant blend. Rule: Vowel-Consonant.
  • ed: /ɪd/ - Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant blend. Rule: Vowel-Consonant.
  • ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Rule: Vowel-Consonant.

11. Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Consonant: The most frequent rule applied, dividing syllables after a vowel sound when followed by a consonant sound.
  • Consonant Blend Separation: Consonant blends (e.g., "lf", "vot") are generally kept together within a syllable unless a vowel intervenes.

12. Special Considerations:

The "self-" prefix is often treated as a single morpheme and syllable, even though it contains a vowel-consonant sequence. The pronunciation of "-ed" as /ɪd/ after /t/ is a common allophonic variation.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some regional variations might slightly alter the vowel quality in "devotedness," but the core syllabification remains consistent.

14. Short Analysis:

"Self-devotedness" is a five-syllable noun (self-de-vot-ed-ness) with primary stress on the third syllable (/ˌself.dɪˈvoʊ.tɪd.nəs/). It's formed from the prefix "self-", the root "devote", and the suffixes "-ed" and "-ness". Syllabification follows the vowel-consonant rule, with consonant blends remaining intact.

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

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In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.