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Hyphenation ofself-forgetfully

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-for-get-ful-ly

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

/ˌself fərˈɡetfəlli/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('get'). The first and fourth syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

for/fər/

Open syllable, schwa vowel.

get/ɡet/

Closed syllable.

ful/fəl/

Open syllable, schwa vowel.

ly/li/

Open syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
forget(root)
+
ful-ly(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: forget

Old English, to be unable to recall information.

Suffix: ful-ly

Old English, -ful forming adjectives, -ly forming adverbs.

Meanings & Definitions
adverb(grammatical role in sentences)

In a manner characterized by forgetfulness, especially regarding one's own needs or importance.

Examples:

"He acted self-forgetfully, giving away his last dollar to a stranger."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Hopefullyhop-ful-ly

Similar suffix structure (-ful-ly), but different stress placement.

Carefullycare-ful-ly

Similar suffix structure (-ful-ly), but different stress placement.

Thoughtfullythought-ful-ly

Similar suffix structure (-ful-ly), but different stress placement.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset-Rime

Dividing syllables based on the consonant onset and vowel-consonant rime.

Vowel-Consonant

Dividing syllables after a vowel sound.

Consonant-Vowel-Consonant

Dividing syllables between consonants in a CVC structure.

Special Considerations

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

The presence of schwa vowels /ə/ in unstressed syllables.

The 'self-' prefix influences the overall stress pattern.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-forgetfully' is divided into five syllables: self-for-get-ful-ly. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('get'). It's an adverb formed by adding suffixes to the root 'forget' with the prefix 'self-'. Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel and consonant sequences.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "self-forgetfully"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-forgetfully" is pronounced as /ˌself fərˈɡetfəlli/ in General American English. It's an adverb formed by adding suffixes to a base.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: self-for-get-ful-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: forget (Old English) - to be unable to recall information.
  • Suffix: -ful (Old English) - forming adjectives expressing possession of a quality (forgetful = full of forgetting).
  • Suffix: -ly (Old English) - forming adverbs from adjectives (forgetfully = in a forgetful manner).

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /ˌself fərˈɡetfəlli/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌself fərˈɡetfəlli/

6. Edge Case Review:

The combination of multiple suffixes can sometimes lead to ambiguity, but the established pronunciation and common usage clearly define the syllable boundaries.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-forgetfully" functions solely as an adverb. There are no syllable division or stress shifts based on different parts of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: In a manner characterized by forgetfulness, especially regarding one's own needs or importance.
  • Grammatical Category: Adverb
  • Synonyms: absentmindedly, unselfconsciously, heedlessly
  • Antonyms: consciously, deliberately, intentionally
  • Examples: "He acted self-forgetfully, giving away his last dollar to a stranger."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Hopefully: hop-ful-ly - Similar suffix structure (-ful-ly). Stress falls on the first syllable.
  • Carefully: care-ful-ly - Similar suffix structure (-ful-ly). Stress falls on the first syllable.
  • Thoughtfully: thought-ful-ly - Similar suffix structure (-ful-ly). Stress falls on the first syllable.

The difference in stress placement in "self-forgetfully" (third syllable) compared to the others (first syllable) is due to the initial "self-" prefix creating a longer word and influencing the rhythmic pattern. The prefix adds weight to the initial portion of the word, shifting the stress towards the middle.

10. Syllable Analysis with Rules:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
self /self/ Open syllable, initial syllable Onset-Rime division, vowel followed by consonant None
for /fər/ Open syllable, schwa vowel Vowel-consonant division None
get /ɡet/ Closed syllable Consonant-vowel-consonant division None
ful /fəl/ Open syllable, schwa vowel Vowel-consonant division None
ly /li/ Open syllable Vowel-consonant division None

Division Rules Applied:

  • Onset-Rime: Dividing syllables based on the consonant onset and vowel-consonant rime.
  • Vowel-Consonant: Dividing syllables after a vowel sound.
  • Consonant-Vowel-Consonant: Dividing syllables between consonants in a CVC structure.

Special Considerations:

The presence of the schwa vowel /ə/ in "for" and "ful" is common in unstressed syllables in English. The "self-" prefix is a compound element that influences the overall stress pattern.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the given pronunciation is standard, some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "forget" to a schwa, making it sound closer to /fərˈɡetəlli/. This wouldn't significantly alter the syllable division.

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.