Hyphenation ofself-sufficience
Syllable Division:
self-suf-fi-cien-cy
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌself səˈfɪʃiən(t)si/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
0 0 1 0 0
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('cien'). The first syllable ('self') has weak stress.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, weak stress.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Open syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, stressed.
Open syllable, unstressed.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: self-
Old English, reflexive pronoun/intensifier
Root: suf-
Latin *sufficere* - to be enough
Suffix: -fi-cien-cy
Latin *-facere*, *-cientia*, Greek *-ia* via French, forming abstract noun
The ability to provide for oneself without help from others.
Examples:
"Her self-sufficiency allowed her to live comfortably alone."
"The community aimed to promote self-sufficiency among its members."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Shares the suffix structure (-cien-cy) and stress pattern.
Shares the root and suffix structure, and stress pattern.
Similar suffix structure (-cy), but different root and stress pattern.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Onset-Rime Division
Syllables are divided between the onset (initial consonants) and the rime (vowel and following consonants).
Vowel-Consonant Division
When a syllable contains a vowel followed by a consonant, the syllable is typically divided after the vowel.
Consonant Cluster Split
When a syllable contains a consonant cluster, the cluster is often split after the vowel.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
Potential for vowel reduction in unstressed syllables (e.g., '-cy' to /ə/).
The 't' in 'sufficient' is often dropped in casual speech.
Summary:
Self-sufficiency is a five-syllable noun with stress on the third syllable. It's built from Latin and Old English roots and suffixes. Syllabification follows standard US English rules, dividing the word based on vowel sounds and consonant clusters. Vowel reduction is a possible pronunciation variation.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "self-sufficiency"
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "self-sufficiency" is pronounced /ˌself səˈfɪʃiən(t)si/ in US English. It presents challenges due to the blend of prefixes, a root, and suffixes, as well as potential vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.
2. Syllable Division:
Following US English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: self-suf-fi-cien-cy.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: self- (Old English) - functions as a reflexive pronoun or intensifier.
- Root: suf- (Latin sufficere - to be enough) - meaning "enough" or "adequate".
- Suffix: -fi- (Latin facere - to make) - connecting vowel, often found in words derived from Latin roots.
- Suffix: -cien- (Latin -cientia - state or quality of) - forming an abstract noun.
- Suffix: -cy- (Greek -ia via French) - forming a noun denoting state, quality, or condition.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /ˌself səˈfɪʃiən(t)si/.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˌself səˈfɪʃiən(t)si/
6. Edge Case Review:
The vowel in the final syllable "-cy" can be reduced to a schwa /ə/ in some pronunciations, particularly in faster speech. The 't' in 'sufficient' is often dropped in casual speech.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Self-sufficiency" primarily functions as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context, as it is not inflected.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The ability to provide for oneself without help from others.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: independence, self-reliance, autonomy
- Antonyms: dependence, reliance
- Examples: "Her self-sufficiency allowed her to live comfortably alone." "The community aimed to promote self-sufficiency among its members."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- Efficiency: ef-fi-cien-cy - Similar suffix structure (-cien-cy), stress on the third syllable.
- Sufficiency: suf-fi-cien-cy - Shares the root and suffix structure, stress on the third syllable.
- Dependency: de-pen-den-cy - Similar suffix structure (-cy), but different root and stress pattern (second syllable). The difference in stress is due to the initial syllable being unstressed in "dependency" while "self-" is a weak stress in "self-sufficiency".
10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:
| Syllable | IPA Transcription | Description | Rule Applied | Exceptions/Special Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| self | /self/ | Open syllable, weak stress | Onset-Rime division, vowel followed by consonant | Vowel reduction possible in rapid speech |
| suf | /sʌf/ | Closed syllable, unstressed | Consonant cluster split after the vowel | |
| fi | /fɪ/ | Open syllable, unstressed | Vowel followed by consonant | |
| cien | /ʃiən/ | Closed syllable, stressed | Consonant cluster split after the vowel | |
| cy | /si/ | Open syllable, unstressed | Vowel followed by consonant | Vowel reduction to /ə/ possible |
11. Division Rules Applied:
- Onset-Rime Division: Syllables are divided between the onset (initial consonants) and the rime (vowel and following consonants).
- Vowel-Consonant Division: When a syllable contains a vowel followed by a consonant, the syllable is typically divided after the vowel.
- Consonant Cluster Split: When a syllable contains a consonant cluster, the cluster is often split after the vowel.
12. Special Considerations:
The word's complex morphology and Latinate origins contribute to its syllabification challenges. The potential for vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a common feature of US English pronunciation.
13. Short Analysis:
"Self-sufficiency" is a five-syllable noun with primary stress on the third syllable (/ˌself səˈfɪʃiən(t)si/). It's formed from the prefix "self-", the root "suf-", and the suffixes "-fi-", "-cien-", and "-cy". Syllabification follows standard US English rules, dividing the word between vowel sounds and consonant clusters. Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a possible variation.
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