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Hyphenation ofself-infatuation

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-in-fa-tu-a-tion

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

/ˌselfɪnfæˈtjuːeɪʃən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

010101

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('tu'), and secondary stress on the first syllable ('self').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

in/ɪn/

Closed syllable.

fa/fæ/

Open syllable.

tu/tjuː/

Open syllable, diphthong.

a/eɪ/

Open syllable.

tion/ʃən/

Closed syllable, common suffix.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
fat(root)
+
uation(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: fat

Latin *fascinare* - to bewitch, enchant; relating to strong attraction.

Suffix: uation

Latin *-ationem* - nominalizing suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Excessive preoccupation with oneself; vanity.

Examples:

"His self-infatuation was evident in every conversation."

"The character's self-infatuation led to his downfall."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

informationin-for-ma-tion

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

confirmationcon-fir-ma-tion

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

situationsi-tu-a-tion

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

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

V-C-V Rule

When a word has a vowel-consonant-vowel sequence, it is typically divided between the vowels.

V-C Rule

When a syllable ends in a consonant, it is typically divided before the consonant.

C-V-C Rule

When a syllable begins and ends with a consonant, it is divided between the consonants.

Special Considerations

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

The word's length and multiple morphemes require careful attention to syllable boundaries.

The presence of the diphthong /juː/ in 'tuation' influences the syllable's phonetic realization.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-infatuation' is divided into six syllables: self-in-fa-tu-a-tion. It consists of the prefix 'self-', the root 'fat-', and the suffix '-uation'. Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('tu'). Syllable division follows standard V-C-V and V-C rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "self-infatuation"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-infatuation" is pronounced as /ˌselfɪnfæˈtjuːeɪʃən/ in US English. It's a relatively complex word with multiple morphemes and potential syllabic stress variations.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): self-in-fa-tu-a-tion

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the action is performed by the subject.
  • Root: fat- (Latin fascinare - to bewitch, enchant) - relating to strong attraction or obsession.
  • Suffix: -uation (Latin -ationem) - nominalizing suffix, forming a noun from a verb.
  • Intervening Morpheme: in- (Latin in- meaning 'in' or 'into') - functions as a prefix here, intensifying the root.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /ˌselfɪnfæˈtjuːeɪʃən/. Secondary stress is on the first syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌselfɪnfæˈtjuːeɪʃən/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-fa-" can sometimes be a point of syllabification ambiguity, but the presence of a vowel following it clearly defines the syllable boundary. The "-tion" ending is a common suffix and generally follows standard syllabification rules.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-infatuation" functions primarily as a noun. While theoretically, one could attempt to use it attributively (e.g., "self-infatuation tendencies"), the syllabification and stress remain consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Excessive preoccupation with oneself; vanity.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: egotism, narcissism, self-absorption, self-regard.
  • Antonyms: humility, modesty, selflessness.
  • Examples: "His self-infatuation was evident in every conversation." "The character's self-infatuation led to his downfall."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Information: in-for-ma-tion (4 syllables, stress on 'ma') - Similar suffix "-tion", but different root. Syllable division follows the same V-C-V pattern.
  • Confirmation: con-fir-ma-tion (4 syllables, stress on 'fir') - Again, "-tion" suffix. The initial consonant cluster is different, affecting the first syllable.
  • Situation: si-tu-a-tion (4 syllables, stress on 'tu') - Similar structure with the "-tion" suffix. The vowel sounds differ, influencing the phonetic realization of each syllable.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
self /self/ Open syllable, initial syllable V-C-V rule (vowel-consonant-vowel) None
in /ɪn/ Closed syllable V-C rule (vowel-consonant) None
fa /fæ/ Open syllable V-C-V rule None
tu /tjuː/ Open syllable, diphthong V-C-V rule Diphthong creates a complex vowel sound
a /eɪ/ Open syllable V-C-V rule None
tion /ʃən/ Closed syllable C-V-C rule (consonant-vowel-consonant) Common suffix, predictable syllabification

Division Rules Applied:

  • V-C-V Rule: When a word has a vowel-consonant-vowel sequence, it is typically divided between the vowels.
  • V-C Rule: When a syllable ends in a consonant, it is typically divided before the consonant.
  • C-V-C Rule: When a syllable begins and ends with a consonant, it is divided between the consonants.

Special Considerations:

The word's length and multiple morphemes require careful attention to syllable boundaries. The presence of the diphthong /juː/ in "tuation" influences the syllable's phonetic realization.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the given pronunciation is standard US English, slight variations in vowel quality might occur depending on regional accents. These variations would not significantly alter the syllable division.

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.