Hyphenation ofself-examination

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

1. Pronunciation: The word "self-examination" is pronounced /ˌselfɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən/ in General American English.

2. Syllable Division: self-ex-am-i-na-tion

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix, indicating the action is performed by the subject upon itself.
• Root: exam- (Latin examinare - to investigate, test) - the core meaning of inspection or testing.
• Suffix: -ination (Latin -ationem) - nominalizing suffix, forming a noun from a verb.
• Suffix: -tion (Latin -tio) - nominalizing suffix, forming a noun from a verb.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the syllable "-na-" in "ex-am-i-na-tion". Secondary stress falls on "self".

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌselfɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən/

6. Edge Case Review: The sequence "-ex-" followed by a vowel can sometimes lead to variations in perceived syllable boundaries, but the standard division is maintained here.

7. Grammatical Role: "Self-examination" primarily functions as a noun. While "examination" can be a verb, the prefixed form "self-examination" is almost exclusively a noun. Therefore, the syllabification remains consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The act of introspectively examining one's own thoughts, feelings, and character.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: introspection, self-analysis, self-reflection, contemplation
• Antonyms: externalization, objectivity
• Examples:
  • "Regular self-examination is crucial for personal growth."
  • "The therapist encouraged a period of self-examination."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Investigation: in-ves-ti-ga-tion - Similar structure with a prefix and suffix. Stress falls on "-ga-".
• Communication: com-mu-ni-ca-tion - Similar suffix "-tion". Stress falls on "-mu-".
• Information: in-for-ma-tion - Similar prefix "in-" and suffix "-tion". Stress falls on "-ma-".

The syllable division in "self-examination" follows the same principles as these words: consonant-vowel (CV) patterns generally define syllable boundaries. The difference in stress placement is due to the length and complexity of the root and the presence of the "self-" prefix.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

• self: /self/ - Open syllable, containing a vowel followed by consonant blend. Rule: Vowel-Consonant.
• ex: /eks/ - Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Rule: Consonant-Vowel-Consonant.
• am: /æm/ - Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Rule: Consonant-Vowel-Consonant.
• i: /ɪ/ - Open syllable, containing a single vowel. Rule: Vowel.
• na: /nə/ - Open syllable, containing a vowel. Rule: Vowel.
• tion: /ʃən/ - Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Rule: Consonant-Vowel-Consonant.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant: Syllables are often divided after a vowel when followed by a consonant (e.g., "self").
2. Consonant-Vowel-Consonant: Syllables are often divided before and after a vowel when surrounded by consonants (e.g., "ex", "am", "tion").
3. Vowel: Single vowels often form their own syllable (e.g., "i", "na").

Special Considerations:

• The compound nature of the word (prefix + root + suffix) requires careful consideration of morphemic boundaries.
• The schwa sound /ə/ in "na" is common in unstressed syllables.
• Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly alter the perceived syllable boundaries, but the core division remains consistent.

Short Analysis:

"Self-examination" is a noun formed from the prefix "self-", the root "exam-", and the suffix "-ination". It is divided into six syllables: self-ex-am-i-na-tion, with primary stress on the fourth syllable ("-na-"). The syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns.