Hyphenation ofself-unworthiness

Analysis of "self-unworthiness"

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced as /ˌselfʌnˈwɜrθɪnəs/.

2. Syllable Division: self-un-worth-i-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: self- (Old English) - reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix indicating the subject is also the object of the action.
• Prefix: un- (Old English) - negative prefix, indicating negation or reversal.
• Root: worth (Old English) - value, merit.
• Suffix: -i- (Latin via French) - connecting vowel.
• Suffix: -ness (Old English) - noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the third syllable: worth. Secondary stress falls on the first syllable: self.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ˌselfʌnˈwɜrθɪnəs/

6. Edge Case Review: The combination of multiple prefixes and suffixes can sometimes lead to ambiguity in syllable division. However, the vowel sounds clearly delineate the syllable boundaries in this case.

7. Grammatical Role: The word functions solely as a noun. There are no syllable or stress shifts based on grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The state or quality of being without value or merit; a lack of deservingness.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: inadequacy, inferiority, worthlessness, demerit
• Antonyms: worthiness, merit, value, competence
• Examples: "His feelings of self-unworthiness stemmed from childhood experiences." "She struggled with deep-seated self-unworthiness."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• unhappiness: un-hap-pi-ness. Similar prefix un- and suffix -ness. Stress on the second syllable (hap).
• discomfort: dis-com-fort. Similar prefix dis- and stress on the second syllable (com).
• worthwhile: worth-while. Shares the root worth. Stress on the first syllable.

The syllable division in "self-unworthiness" is consistent with these words, following the principle of dividing around vowel sounds and affixes. The difference in stress placement is due to the number of syllables and the inherent prosodic weight of the morphemes.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

• self: /self/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: The 'l' is often syllabic, but here it's part of the syllable.
• un: /ʌn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
• worth: /wɜrθ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. Primary stress.
• i: /ɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound. This is a schwa vowel, often functioning as a connecting vowel.
• ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by vowel and consonant.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel Rule: Syllables are generally divided around vowel sounds.
2. Affix Rule: Prefixes and suffixes typically form separate syllables.
3. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often maintained within a syllable, especially when following a vowel.

Special Considerations:

• The prefix "self-" can sometimes be considered a bound morpheme, but it functions as a distinct syllable in pronunciation.
• The vowel /ɪ/ in "i" is a reduced vowel (schwa) and can be difficult to identify as a full syllable, but it separates "worth" and "ness" phonetically.
• Regional variations in pronunciation might affect the precise articulation of vowels, but the syllable division remains consistent.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the primary pronunciation is /ˌselfʌnˈwɜrθɪnəs/, some speakers might reduce the vowel in "un" to a schwa /ən/, resulting in /ˌselfʌnˈwɜrθɪnəs/. This doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.

Short Analysis:

"self-unworthiness" is a five-syllable noun with primary stress on "worth". It's formed from the prefixes "self-" and "un-", the root "worth", and the suffix "-iness". Syllable division follows vowel-based rules and affix separation, consistent with similar English words.