HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofself-responsibility

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-re-spon-si-bil-i-ty

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

/ˌself rɪˌspɑn.səˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0010001

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('si'). The stress pattern is typical for words ending in '-ibility'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Closed syllable, potential for syllabic 'l' reduction.

re/rɪ/

Open syllable.

spon/spɑn/

Closed syllable, consonant blend 'sp'

si/sə/

Open syllable, primary stress.

bil/bɪl/

Closed syllable, syllabic 'l'

i/ɪ/

Open syllable.

ty/ti/

Closed syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
respons(root)
+
ibility(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: respons

Latin *responsum* - a response, meaning 'to answer' or 'to be accountable'.

Suffix: ibility

Latin *-ibilitas*, denoting capability or quality of being.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of being accountable for one's own actions and decisions.

Examples:

"Taking self-responsibility is crucial for personal growth."

"The company emphasized self-responsibility among its employees."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the same root and suffix, exhibiting similar stress patterns.

accessibilityac-ces-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ibility' suffix and similar stress pattern.

possibilitypos-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ibility' suffix and similar stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant (VC) Rule

Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.

Syllabic Consonant Rule

Liquids (/l/, /r/) can form the nucleus of a syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The compound nature of the word.

The presence of the syllabic 'l'.

Potential regional variations in vowel pronunciation.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-responsibility' is divided into seven syllables: self-re-spon-si-bil-i-ty, with primary stress on 'si'. It's a compound noun formed from the prefix 'self-', root 'respons-', and suffix '-ibility'. Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and consonant clusters, with consideration for the syllabic 'l'.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-responsibility" is a compound noun. Its pronunciation involves a blend of common English sounds, with potential variations in vowel quality depending on regional accents. The 'l' in 'self' is often syllabic.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-re-spon-si-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the subject is also the object of the action.
  • Root: respons- (Latin responsum - a response) - meaning "to answer" or "to be accountable."
  • Suffix: -ibility (Latin -ibilitas) - denoting capability or quality of being.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌself rɪˌspɑn.səˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The syllabic 'l' in 'self' can sometimes be less pronounced or even omitted in rapid speech, potentially affecting the perceived syllable count. However, for a formal analysis, it's considered a syllable.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-responsibility" primarily functions as a noun. While it could theoretically be used attributively (e.g., "self-responsibility initiatives"), the core syllabification and stress remain consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of being accountable for one's own actions and decisions.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: accountability, answerability, ownership
  • Antonyms: irresponsibility, recklessness, negligence
  • Examples: "Taking self-responsibility is crucial for personal growth." "The company emphasized self-responsibility among its employees."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Similar structure, stress on 'si'.
  • Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix '-ibility', stress on 'si'.
  • Possibility: pos-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix '-ibility', stress on 'si'.

The consistent stress on the 'si' syllable in these words highlights the typical stress pattern for words ending in '-ibility'. The initial syllable differs due to the varying prefixes/roots.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
self /self/ Closed syllable VCC rule: Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable. Syllabic 'l' can be reduced.
re /rɪ/ Open syllable Vowel-consonant pattern. None
spon /spɑn/ Closed syllable Consonant blend 'sp' followed by vowel and consonant. None
si /sə/ Open syllable Vowel-consonant pattern. Primary stress. None
bil /bɪl/ Closed syllable Vowel-consonant pattern. Syllabic 'l'
i /ɪ/ Open syllable Single vowel. None
ty /ti/ Closed syllable Vowel-consonant pattern. None

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Consonant (VC) Rule: Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound.
  2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters (like 'sp', 'bl') are generally kept together within a syllable.
  3. Syllabic Consonant Rule: Liquids (/l/, /r/) can form the nucleus of a syllable.

Special Considerations:

The compound nature of the word and the presence of the syllabic 'l' require careful consideration. Regional accents might influence vowel pronunciation and syllable boundaries.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might reduce the vowel in 're' to a schwa /rə/. This doesn't significantly alter the syllable division but affects the phonetic realization.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/6/2025

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.