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Hyphenation ofself-supportedness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-sup-port-ed-ness

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

/ˌself.səˈpɔːrt.ɪd.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00100

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('port'). The first, second, fourth, and fifth syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/self/

Open syllable, initial syllable, unstressed.

sup/sʌp/

Open syllable, contains a reduced vowel, unstressed.

port/pɔːrt/

Closed syllable, stressed syllable.

ed/ɪd/

Closed syllable, contains a schwa and a voiced alveolar stop, unstressed.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, contains a schwa, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
support(root)
+
ed(suffix)

Prefix: self

Old English origin, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: support

Latin origin (supportere), meaning to bear up.

Suffix: ed

Old English origin, past tense/participle marker, functioning adjectivally.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of being able to sustain oneself without external assistance; independence in providing for one's needs.

Examples:

"Her self-supportedness was admirable, having built a successful business from scratch."

"The program aims to foster self-supportedness among young adults."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Shares the -ness suffix and a similar root structure.

kindnesskind-ness

Shares the -ness suffix, demonstrating a common pattern.

thoughtfulnessthought-ful-ness

Contains the -ness suffix and an additional adjectival suffix (-ful), illustrating a more complex structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Syllables are generally built around vowel sounds.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are often split, but attempts are made to keep affixes intact.

Affix Rule

Prefixes and suffixes generally form separate syllables.

Stress-Timing Rule

English is a stress-timed language, meaning syllables are adjusted in duration to accommodate stressed syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The compound nature of the word (self + support) could potentially lead to alternative interpretations, but the established pronunciation and morphological structure dictate the standard syllabification.

The pronunciation of the '-ed' suffix as /ɪd/ is dependent on the preceding sound.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-supportedness' is divided into five syllables: self-sup-port-ed-ness. The primary stress falls on 'port'. It's a noun formed from the prefix 'self-', the root 'support', and the suffixes '-ed' and '-ness'. Syllabification follows vowel and affix rules, typical of US English.

Detailed Analysis:

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

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-supportedness" is a complex noun formed through compounding and suffixation. Its pronunciation involves several consonant clusters and vowel reductions, typical of English.

2. Syllable Division:

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

self-sup-port-ed-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the subject performs the action on itself.
  • Root: support (Latin supportere - to bear up) - the core meaning of providing assistance or holding up.
  • Suffix: -ed (Old English) - past tense/participle marker, here functioning adjectivally.
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English) - nominalizing suffix, forming a noun denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: sup-port-ed-ness. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ness, unless overridden by other factors (like a strong root stress).

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌself.səˈpɔːrt.ɪd.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The "-ed" suffix can be pronounced /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/ depending on the preceding sound. Here, it's /ɪd/ because it follows a /t/ sound. The vowel reduction in "self" to /self/ is also a common feature of US English.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-supportedness" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The state or quality of being able to sustain oneself without external assistance; independence in providing for one's needs.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: independence, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, autonomy
  • Antonyms: dependence, reliance, neediness
  • Examples: "Her self-supportedness was admirable, having built a successful business from scratch." "The program aims to foster self-supportedness among young adults."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • happiness: hap-pi-ness - Similar structure with a root and -ness suffix. Stress falls on the second syllable.
  • kindness: kind-ness - Simpler structure, but shares the -ness suffix. Stress falls on the first syllable.
  • thoughtfulness: thought-ful-ness - Contains an adjectival suffix (-ful) before -ness. Stress falls on the first syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the varying number of syllables and the strength of the root in each word. "Self-supportedness" has a longer root ("support") and a prefix, influencing the stress pattern.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Syllables are generally built around vowel sounds.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often split, but attempts are made to keep affixes intact.
  • Affix Rule: Prefixes and suffixes generally form separate syllables.
  • Stress-Timing Rule: English is a stress-timed language, meaning syllables are adjusted in duration to accommodate stressed syllables.

11. Special Considerations:

The compound nature of the word (self + support) could potentially lead to alternative interpretations, but the established pronunciation and morphological structure dictate the standard syllabification.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some regional variations might exhibit slight vowel differences (e.g., /ɔː/ vs. /ɒ/ in "support"), but these variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.