Hyphenation ofself-intensifying

Linguistic Analysis of "self-intensifying"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-intensifying" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a blend of stressed and unstressed syllables, with potential variations in vowel reduction in unstressed positions.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-in-ten-si-fy-ing

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating performance of an action on oneself.
• Root: ten- (Latin tenēre - to hold, keep) - related to strength, tension, or firmness. Appears here as part of the verb 'intensify'.
• Suffixes:
  • -i- (Latin) - connecting vowel, often found between a root and a suffix.
  • -fy- (French fier via Latin facere - to make) - verb-forming suffix.
  • -ing- (Old English) - progressive/gerundive suffix, also forms present participles and adjectives.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: in-ten-si-fy-ing.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsɛlf ɪnˈtɛnsɪˌfaɪɪŋ/

6. Edge Case Review:

The combination of multiple suffixes and the presence of the connecting vowel '-i-' can sometimes lead to ambiguity in syllabification. However, the principle of maximizing onsets (placing consonants with the following vowel) guides the division here.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-intensifying" primarily functions as an adjective. As a gerund, the stress pattern would remain the same.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Increasing or exaggerating one's own feelings, behavior, or beliefs.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: escalating, augmenting, heightening, exacerbating
• Antonyms: diminishing, lessening, moderating, reducing
• Examples: "His self-intensifying anxiety made it difficult to concentrate." "The self-intensifying cycle of negative thoughts was hard to break."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Identifying: i-den-ti-fy-ing (similar suffix structure, stress on the third syllable)
• Simplifying: sim-pli-fy-ing (similar suffix structure, stress on the third syllable)
• Beautifying: beau-ti-fy-ing (similar suffix structure, stress on the third syllable)

These words share the -fy-ing suffix, resulting in a consistent stress pattern on the syllable preceding the -fy. "Self-intensifying" follows this pattern despite the added prefix.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel Peak Principle: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
2. Maximize Onsets: Consonants are generally assigned to the following vowel to create onsets.
3. Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are split according to sonority hierarchy (more sonorous sounds go with the vowel).

Special Considerations:

The prefix "self-" is often treated as a separate syllable due to its semantic independence. The connecting vowel '-i-' is crucial for pronunciation and syllabification, linking the root to the suffix.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "self" to /səlf/. This doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.