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Hyphenation ofself-suppressive

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

self-sup-pres-sive

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

/sɛlf səˈprɛsɪv/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0010

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('pres') of the word. The stress pattern is consistent with the -ive suffix rule.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

self/sɛlf/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant blend.

sup/səp/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

pres/prɛs/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

sive/sɪv/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self-(prefix)
+
suppress(root)
+
-ive(suffix)

Prefix: self-

Old English, reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.

Root: suppress

Latin *supprimere* - to press down; verb root.

Suffix: -ive

Latin *-ivus*, forming adjectives from verbs.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Tending to restrain or inhibit one's own emotions, actions, or thoughts.

Examples:

"He had a self-suppressive personality, rarely showing his true feelings."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

impressiveim-pres-sive

Shares the -ive suffix and similar stress pattern.

progressivepro-gres-sive

Shares the -ive suffix and similar stress pattern.

aggressivea-gres-sive

Shares the -ive suffix and similar stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Preservation

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The hyphenated prefix 'self-' is treated as a single unit for syllabification.

The 'ss' consonant cluster is maintained within the 'pres' syllable.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'self-suppressive' is divided into four syllables: self-sup-pres-sive. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('pres'). It consists of the prefix 'self-', the root 'suppress', and the suffix '-ive'. Syllabification follows vowel-consonant division and consonant cluster preservation rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "self-suppressive"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "self-suppressive" is pronounced as /sɛlf səˈprɛsɪv/ in General American English. It exhibits a complex syllable structure due to the prefix, compound nature, and multiple consonants.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: self-sup-pres-sive.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the action is performed by the subject.
  • Root: suppress- (Latin supprimere - to press down) - to forcibly put an end to; subdue.
  • Suffix: -ive (Latin -ivus) - forming adjectives from verbs, indicating a tendency or capacity.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: sup-pres-sive. This is consistent with the general rule that stress falls on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ive, unless there are other factors influencing stress placement.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/sɛlf səˈprɛsɪv/

6. Edge Case Review:

The combination of "ss" presents a potential consonant cluster challenge, but it is readily syllabified within the "pres" syllable. The hyphenated "self-" is treated as a single morphemic unit, influencing the initial syllable division.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Self-suppressive" functions primarily as an adjective. While theoretically it could be part of a compound noun, the syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Tending to restrain or inhibit one's own emotions, actions, or thoughts.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: Repressive, inhibiting, restraining, controlling.
  • Antonyms: Expressive, uninhibited, impulsive.
  • Example Usage: "He had a self-suppressive personality, rarely showing his true feelings."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Impressive: im-pres-sive. Similar -ive ending and stress pattern.
  • Progressive: pro-gres-sive. Similar -ive ending and stress pattern.
  • Aggressive: a-gres-sive. Similar -ive ending and stress pattern.

The consistent stress on the penultimate syllable in these words demonstrates the regularity of English stress patterns with the -ive suffix. The initial consonant clusters differ, influencing the initial syllable division, but the core syllabic structure remains comparable.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

  • self: /sɛlf/ - Open syllable, containing a vowel followed by consonant blend. Rule applied: Vowel-consonant division. No exceptions.
  • sup: /səp/ - Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Rule applied: Vowel-consonant division. No exceptions.
  • pres: /prɛs/ - Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster. Rule applied: Consonant cluster remains intact within the syllable. Exception: The 'ss' cluster is common and doesn't necessitate division.
  • sive: /sɪv/ - Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Rule applied: Vowel-consonant division. No exceptions.

Exceptions/Special Cases:

The hyphenated prefix "self-" is treated as a single unit for syllabification, despite being a complete word on its own. This is common with prefixes.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound.
  2. Consonant Cluster Preservation: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/11/2025

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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.