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Hyphenation ofself-recollection

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-re-col-lec-tion

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

/ˌself.rɪ.kəˈlek.ʃən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('lec'). The first and second 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.

re/rɪ/

Closed syllable, weak syllable.

col/kɒl/

Closed syllable.

lec/lek/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

tion/ʃən/

Closed syllable, final syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
col(root)
+
lec-tion(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: col

Latin *colligere* - to gather together.

Suffix: lec-tion

Latin, -lec- part of the root, -tion nominalizing suffix.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The act of remembering or reflecting on one's own past experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

Examples:

"Her practice of daily journaling aided in self-recollection."

"The therapist encouraged self-recollection as a means of processing trauma."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

recollectionre-col-lec-tion

Shares the same root and suffix, demonstrating consistent stress patterns.

reconstructionre-con-struc-tion

Similar prefix and suffix structure, illustrating the common 're-' prefix and '-tion' suffix.

reflectionre-flec-tion

Similar prefix and suffix structure, demonstrating consistent stress patterns.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (V-C-C)

Applied to syllables containing a vowel followed by two consonants, such as 'self'.

Consonant-Vowel (C-V)

Applied to syllables containing a consonant followed by a vowel, such as 're'.

Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (C-V-C)

Applied to syllables containing a consonant, a vowel, and a consonant, such as 'col', 'lec', and 'tion'.

Special Considerations

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

Potential reduction of the 're-' prefix to /r/ in rapid speech, but this does not alter the underlying syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-recollection' is divided into five syllables: self-re-col-lec-tion. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('lec'). It is a compound noun formed from the prefix 'self-', the root 'col-', and the suffix '-lection'. Syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-recollection" is a compound noun. Its pronunciation involves a blend of common English vowel and consonant sounds. The 're-' prefix is often reduced in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-re-col-lec-tion

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the subject is also the object of the action.
  • Root: col- (Latin colligere - to gather together) - forming the base of 'collect'.
  • Suffix: -lec- (Latin) - part of the root, contributing to the meaning of gathering or choosing.
  • Suffix: -tion (Latin) - nominalizing suffix, turning a verb into a noun.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: re-col-lec-tion.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌself.rɪ.kəˈlek.ʃən/

6. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of the word doesn't present significant edge cases. The 're-' prefix is often reduced to /rə/ or even /r/ in rapid speech, but the syllabification remains consistent.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-recollection" primarily functions as a noun. While theoretically, one could construct a sentence where it acts adjectivally (e.g., "a self-recollection exercise"), the stress pattern and syllabification would remain unchanged.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The act of remembering or reflecting on one's own past experiences, thoughts, and feelings.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: introspection, reminiscence, reflection, contemplation
  • Antonyms: forgetfulness, oblivion
  • Examples:
    • "Her practice of daily journaling aided in self-recollection."
    • "The therapist encouraged self-recollection as a means of processing trauma."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • recollection: re-col-lec-tion - Similar syllable structure, stress on 'lec'.
  • reconstruction: re-con-struc-tion - Similar prefix and suffix, stress on 'struc'.
  • reflection: re-flec-tion - Similar prefix and suffix, stress on 'flec'.

The consistent stress on the penultimate syllable in these words (when the suffix is '-tion') demonstrates a common pattern in English. The initial 're-' prefix consistently forms a weak syllable.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

  • self: /self/ - Open syllable, containing a vowel sound followed by consonant sounds. Rule applied: V-C-C pattern. No exceptions.
  • re: /rɪ/ - Closed syllable, vowel sound followed by a consonant. Rule applied: C-V pattern. Potential exception: reduction to /r/ in rapid speech.
  • col: /kɒl/ - Closed syllable, vowel sound followed by a consonant. Rule applied: C-V-C pattern. No exceptions.
  • lec: /lek/ - Closed syllable, vowel sound followed by a consonant. Rule applied: C-V-C pattern. Primary stress. No exceptions.
  • tion: /ʃən/ - Closed syllable, consonant cluster followed by a vowel sound. Rule applied: C-C-V pattern. No exceptions.

Exceptions and Special Cases:

The primary exception considered is the potential reduction of the 're-' prefix in rapid speech. However, this doesn't alter the underlying syllabification.

Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (V-C-C): Applied to "self".
  • Consonant-Vowel (C-V): Applied to "re".
  • Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (C-V-C): Applied to "col", "lec", and "tion".
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

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.