Hyphenation ofself-regardlessness
Syllable Division:
self-re-gard-less-ness
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌsɛlf rɪˈɡɑrdləsnəs/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
0 1 1 1 0
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('less'). Secondary stress may be present on the first syllable ('self').
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Closed syllable, initial syllable
Open syllable
Closed syllable
Closed syllable
Closed syllable
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: self
Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix
Root: regard
Old French regarder, to look at, consider
Suffix: less
Old English -leas, indicates a lack of something
The quality or state of not considering or caring about something; a complete lack of regard.
Examples:
"His self-regardlessness for the feelings of others was shocking."
"The politician displayed a disturbing level of self-regardlessness towards the needs of his constituents."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar morphological structure with the '-less-ness' suffix.
Similar morphological structure with the '-less-ness' suffix.
Similar morphological structure with the '-less-ness' suffix.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Onset-Rime Division
Syllables are divided based on the onset (initial consonant sound(s)) and rime (vowel and any following consonants).
Vowel-Centric Division
Syllables are generally formed around vowel sounds. Each syllable typically contains one vowel sound.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The compound nature of the word (multiple affixes) requires careful consideration of morphemic boundaries.
The consonant clusters (e.g., 'rdl', 'lss') are common in English and do not pose significant syllabification challenges.
Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly alter the vowel qualities, but the core syllabification remains consistent.
Summary:
self-regardlessness is a complex noun with five syllables: self-re-gard-less-ness. The primary stress falls on 'less'. It's formed from the prefix 'self-', the root 'regard', and the suffixes '-less' and '-ness'. Syllabification follows standard vowel-centric and onset-rime division rules.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "self-regardlessness" (US English)
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "self-regardlessness" is a complex noun formed through multiple affixations. Its pronunciation involves several consonant clusters and vowel reductions, typical of English morphology.
2. Syllable Division:
Following US English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):
self-re-gard-less-ness
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the subject is also the object of the action.
- Root: regard (Old French regarder - to look at, consider) - the core meaning of attention or consideration.
- Suffix: -less (Old English -leas) - indicates a lack of something.
- Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes) - forms a noun of state or quality.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the third syllable: re-gard-less-ness. Secondary stress may be present on the first syllable: self-re-gard-less-ness.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˌsɛlf rɪˈɡɑrdləsnəs/
6. Edge Case Review:
The sequence "-less-ness" is a relatively common, though complex, morphological structure. Syllabification is straightforward here, following vowel-centric division.
7. Grammatical Role:
The word functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if it were to hypothetically function as another part of speech.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The quality or state of not considering or caring about something; a complete lack of regard.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: indifference, apathy, disregard, unconcern
- Antonyms: concern, consideration, regard, attentiveness
- Examples: "His self-regardlessness for the feelings of others was shocking." "The politician displayed a disturbing level of self-regardlessness towards the needs of his constituents."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- carelessness: care-less-ness (similar structure, stress on the second syllable)
- thoughtlessness: thought-less-ness (similar structure, stress on the second syllable)
- hopelessness: hope-less-ness (similar structure, stress on the second syllable)
The consistent pattern of -less-ness suffixes demonstrates the regularity of English morphology. The difference in stress placement in "self-regardlessness" is due to the initial prefix "self-", which adds a syllable and influences the overall stress pattern.
Detailed Syllable Analysis:
| Syllable | IPA Transcription | Description | Division Rule | Exceptions/Special Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| self | /sɛlf/ | Closed syllable, initial syllable | Onset-Rime division, vowel followed by consonant cluster | None |
| re | /ri/ | Open syllable | Vowel-centric division | None |
| gard | /ɡɑrd/ | Closed syllable | Onset-Rime division, vowel followed by consonant cluster | None |
| less | /lɛs/ | Closed syllable | Onset-Rime division, vowel followed by consonant cluster | None |
| ness | /nəs/ | Closed syllable | Onset-Rime division, vowel followed by consonant cluster | None |
Division Rules Applied:
- Onset-Rime Division: Syllables are divided based on the onset (initial consonant sound(s)) and rime (vowel and any following consonants).
- Vowel-Centric Division: Syllables are generally formed around vowel sounds. Each syllable typically contains one vowel sound.
Special Considerations:
- The compound nature of the word (multiple affixes) requires careful consideration of morphemic boundaries.
- The consonant clusters (e.g., "rdl", "lss") are common in English and do not pose significant syllabification challenges.
- Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly alter the vowel qualities, but the core syllabification remains consistent.
Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
Some speakers might reduce the vowel in "re" to a schwa /rə/, but this doesn't affect the syllable division.
Short Analysis:
"self-regardlessness" is a complex noun with five syllables: self-re-gard-less-ness. The primary stress falls on "less". It's formed from the prefix "self-", the root "regard", and the suffixes "-less" and "-ness". Syllabification follows standard vowel-centric and onset-rime division rules.
The hottest word splits in English (US)
See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.
What is hyphenation
Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.
This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.
With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.