Hyphenation ofself-righteously
Syllable Division:
self-right-e-ous-ly
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/selfˈraɪtɪəsli/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
01001
Primary stress falls on the second syllable ('right'). The first, third, and fifth syllables are unstressed.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, initial syllable.
Open syllable, containing a diphthong.
Unstressed vowel syllable, schwa reduction.
Syllable containing a vowel and consonant(s).
Open syllable, adverbial suffix.
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: right
Old English, meaning morally good.
Suffix: eous
Latin via Old French, adjective-forming suffix.
In a conceited or holier-than-thou manner; with an excessive sense of one's own righteousness.
Examples:
"He self-righteously criticized her choices."
"She self-righteously lectured everyone on their flaws."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar morphological structure with the '-ly' suffix.
Similar morphological structure with the '-ly' suffix.
Similar morphological structure with the '-ly' suffix.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel-Consonant Separation
Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.
Suffix Separation
Suffixes are generally separated into their own syllables.
Consonant Cluster Separation
Syllables are often divided before consonant clusters.
Open Syllable Rule
Syllables ending in a vowel sound are considered open syllables.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
Vowel reduction in the unstressed syllable 'e' is a common phonetic phenomenon but doesn't affect the syllabification.
The presence of the prefix 'self-' adds a syllable and shifts the primary stress.
Summary:
The word 'self-righteously' is divided into five syllables: self-right-e-ous-ly. It consists of the prefix 'self-', the root 'right-', and the suffixes '-eous' and '-ly'. The primary stress falls on the second syllable ('right'). Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant separation, suffix separation, and consonant cluster separation.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "self-righteously"
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "self-righteously" is a four-syllable adverb formed by adding the suffix "-ly" to the adjective "self-righteous." Its pronunciation in US English is generally /ˈselfˈraɪtɪəsli/.
2. Syllable Division:
Following English syllable division rules, the word breaks down as follows: self-right-e-ous-ly.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix, indicating the action is performed by the subject.
- Root: right- (Old English) - meaning morally good, justified, or correct.
- Suffix: -eous (Latin via Old French) - adjective-forming suffix, meaning "characterized by" or "possessing the quality of."
- Suffix: -ly (Old English) - adverb-forming suffix, indicating manner.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the second syllable: /ˈselfˈraɪtɪəsli/.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/selfˈraɪtɪəsli/
6. Edge Case Review:
The combination of vowel sounds and consonant clusters doesn't present any unusual edge cases for syllabification in this word. The "-ly" suffix is a standard adverbial ending and consistently forms its own syllable.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Self-righteously" functions solely as an adverb. The syllabification and stress pattern remain consistent regardless of its contextual use.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: In a conceited or holier-than-thou manner; with an excessive sense of one's own righteousness.
- Grammatical Category: Adverb
- Synonyms: sanctimoniously, smugly, pretentiously, pompously.
- Antonyms: humbly, modestly, unassumingly.
- Examples:
- "He self-righteously criticized her choices."
- "She self-righteously lectured everyone on their flaws."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- Rightfully: right-ful-ly. Similar structure, stress on the first syllable of the root.
- Hopefully: hope-ful-ly. Similar structure, stress on the first syllable of the root.
- Carefully: care-ful-ly. Similar structure, stress on the first syllable of the root.
The consistent "-ly" suffix creates a predictable syllabic pattern. The difference in stress placement between "self-righteously" and the others is due to the prefix "self-" adding a syllable and shifting the primary stress.
Syllable Breakdown Details:
- self: /self/ - Open syllable, containing a vowel followed by consonant(s). Rule: V-C-C syllables are often separated before the consonant cluster.
- right: /raɪt/ - Open syllable, containing a vowel followed by consonant(s). Rule: V-C syllables are typically separated.
- e: /i/ - Weak vowel syllable, often occurring in unstressed positions. Rule: Single vowel letters often form their own syllable.
- ous: /əs/ - Syllable containing a vowel and consonant(s). Rule: V-C-C syllables are often separated before the consonant cluster.
- ly: /li/ - Open syllable, containing a vowel followed by consonant(s). Rule: Suffixes are generally separated into their own syllables.
Exceptions/Special Cases:
The vowel reduction in the unstressed syllable "e" (/i/) is a common phonetic phenomenon in English but doesn't affect the syllabification.
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel-Consonant (V-C) Separation: Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.
- Suffix Separation: Suffixes are generally separated into their own syllables.
- Consonant Cluster Separation: Syllables are often divided before consonant clusters.
- Open Syllable Rule: Syllables ending in a vowel sound are considered open syllables.
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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.