Hyphenation ofself-righteousness
Syllable Division:
self-right-eous-ness
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˈselfˌraɪtʃəsnəs/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
1001
Primary stress falls on the first syllable ('self'). Secondary stress is present on 'eous'.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, primary stress.
Open syllable, stressed.
Weak syllable, follows a stressed syllable.
Weak syllable, final 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: right
Old English, denoting moral correctness.
Suffix: eous
Latin via Old French, adjective-forming suffix.
A feeling or display of moral superiority; excessive pride in one's own righteousness.
Examples:
"His self-righteousness was off-putting to everyone he met."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar suffix structure (-ness), consistent stress on the first syllable.
Similar suffix structure (-ness), consistent stress on the first syllable.
Similar suffix structure (-ness), consistent stress on the first syllable.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel-Consonant-e Rule
Syllables are divided after the vowel in 'eous' due to the silent 'e'.
Onset-Rime Rule
Syllables are divided between onset (initial consonant sound) and rime (vowel and following consonants).
Stress-Timing Rule
English is a stress-timed language, organizing syllables around stressed syllables.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
Regional variations in the pronunciation of 'righteous' may affect vowel quality.
The word's length and complexity can lead to slight pronunciation variations.
Summary:
The word 'self-righteousness' is divided into four syllables (self-right-eous-ness) with primary stress on 'self'. It's formed from 'self-', 'right-', '-eous', and '-ness'. Syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and stress timing.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "self-righteousness" (US English)
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "self-righteousness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes and potential syllabic ambiguities. Its pronunciation in US English is generally /ˈselfˌraɪtʃəsnəs/.
2. Syllable Division:
Following US English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):
self-right-eous-ness
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) - denoting moral correctness, justice, or conformity to fact or truth.
- Suffix: -eous (Latin via Old French) - adjective-forming suffix meaning "characterized by" or "possessing the quality of."
- Suffix: -ness (Old English) - noun-forming suffix denoting a state, quality, or condition.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the first syllable: self. Secondary stress is present on eous.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˈselfˌraɪtʃəsnəs/
6. Edge Case Review:
The sequence "righteous" can sometimes be pronounced with a reduced vowel in the second syllable (/ˈraɪtʃəs/), but the full diphthong /aɪ/ is more common in US English. The "ness" suffix is generally a weak syllable.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Self-righteousness" functions primarily as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context, as it is not inflected.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: A feeling or display of moral superiority; excessive pride in one's own righteousness.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: sanctimoniousness, moralizing, hypocrisy, self-importance.
- Antonyms: humility, modesty, selflessness.
- Example Usage: "His self-righteousness was off-putting to everyone he met."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- righteousness: self-right-eous-ness
- happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar suffix structure, but simpler root. Stress on the first syllable is consistent.
- thoughtfulness: thought-ful-ness - Similar suffix structure, but a different root. Stress on the first syllable is consistent.
- carelessness: care-less-ness - Similar suffix structure, but a different root. Stress on the first syllable is consistent.
The consistent stress on the first syllable across these words demonstrates a common pattern in English for words ending in "-ness" with multi-syllabic roots.
Detailed Syllable Analysis:
- self: /ˈself/ - Open syllable, stressed. Rule: Stress on the first syllable of a multi-syllabic word. Exception: None.
- right: /ˈraɪt/ - Open syllable, stressed. Rule: Stress on the first syllable of a multi-syllabic word. Exception: None.
- eous: /iəs/ - Weak syllable, following a stressed syllable. Rule: Syllables following a stressed syllable tend to be reduced. Exception: None.
- ness: /nəs/ - Weak syllable, final syllable. Rule: Final syllables are often reduced. Exception: None.
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel-Consonant-e Rule: The "eous" syllable is divided after the vowel due to the silent 'e'.
- Onset-Rime Rule: Syllables are divided between onset (initial consonant sound) and rime (vowel and following consonants).
- Stress-Timing Rule: English is a stress-timed language, meaning syllables are organized around stressed syllables.
Special Considerations:
- The pronunciation of "righteous" can vary regionally, potentially affecting the vowel quality in the second syllable.
- The word's length and complexity can lead to slight variations in pronunciation and syllabification, but the core structure remains consistent.
Short Analysis:
"Self-righteousness" is a four-syllable word (self-right-eous-ness) with primary stress on the first syllable. It's formed from the prefix "self-", the root "right-", and the suffixes "-eous" and "-ness". The syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns and stress timing.
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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.