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Hyphenation ofsemipermeability

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

se-mi-per-me-a-bi-li-ty

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

/ˌsɛmiːpɜːrmiˈeɪbɪlɪti/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00010001

Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('a' in 'a-bi-li-ty').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

se/sɛ/

Open syllable, short vowel.

mi/miː/

Open syllable, long vowel.

per/pɜːr/

Open syllable, r-controlled vowel.

me/mi/

Open syllable, short vowel.

a/eɪ/

Open syllable, diphthong.

bi/bɪ/

Open syllable, short vowel.

li/lɪ/

Open syllable, short vowel.

ty/ti/

Closed syllable, short vowel.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

semi-(prefix)
+
perme-(root)
+
-ability(suffix)

Prefix: semi-

Latin origin, meaning 'half' or 'partly', degree modifier.

Root: perme-

Latin origin (*per-* 'through' + *meare* 'to go'), core meaning of passing through.

Suffix: -ability

Latin origin (*-abilitas*), nominalization suffix denoting a capacity or quality.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or condition of a membrane or barrier that allows some molecules or ions to pass through it by diffusion or specialized transport while restricting the passage of others.

Examples:

"The semipermeability of the cell membrane is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

possibilitypos-si-bil-i-ty

Similar vowel structure and the '-ity' suffix.

permeableper-me-a-ble

Shares the root 'perme-', demonstrating consistent syllable division.

improbabilityim-prob-a-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ability' suffix, showing consistent suffix syllable division.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Following Consonant Rule

Each vowel sound is generally followed by a consonant, creating a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters at the end of a syllable are maintained together.

Special Considerations

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

The length of the word and multiple vowels require careful application of the vowel-following consonant rule.

The root 'perme-' is consistently treated as a unit.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'semipermeability' is divided into eight syllables: se-mi-per-me-a-bi-li-ty. It consists of the prefix 'semi-', the root 'perme-', and the suffix '-ability'. The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable. Syllable division follows the vowel-following consonant rule and maintains consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "semipermeability"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "semipermeability" is pronounced /ˌsɛmiːpɜːrmiˈeɪbɪlɪti/ in US English. It presents challenges due to the presence of multiple vowels, consonant clusters, and the schwa sound.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: semi- (Latin, meaning "half" or "partly"). Morphological function: degree modifier.
  • Root: perme- (Latin per-, meaning "through" + meare, meaning "to go"). Morphological function: core meaning of passing through.
  • Suffix: -ability (Latin -abilitas, meaning "quality of being"). Morphological function: nominalization, forming a noun denoting a capacity or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: /ˌsɛmiːpɜːrmiˈeɪbɪlɪti/.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsɛmiːpɜːrmiˈeɪbɪlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-rm-" can sometimes be a point of division ambiguity, but in this case, it's more natural to group "per-" with "me-" due to the root's origin. The "i" and "a" vowels create separate syllables.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Semipermeability" functions solely as a noun. There are no stress or syllable division shifts based on part of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or condition of a membrane or barrier that allows some molecules or ions to pass through it by diffusion or specialized transport while restricting the passage of others.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: selective permeability, differential permeability
  • Antonyms: impermeability
  • Examples: "The semipermeability of the cell membrane is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • possibility: pos-si-bil-i-ty (4 syllables) - Similar vowel structure, but simpler consonant clusters. Stress on the third syllable.
  • permeable: per-me-a-ble (4 syllables) - Shares the root "perme-", demonstrating consistent syllable division within that morpheme. Stress on the second syllable.
  • improbability: im-prob-a-bil-i-ty (6 syllables) - Longer word with a different prefix, but shares the "-ability" suffix, showing consistent suffix syllable division. Stress on the third syllable.

10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Division Rule Exceptions/Special Cases
se- /sɛ/ Open syllable, short vowel. Vowel-following consonant rule. None
mi- /miː/ Open syllable, long vowel. Vowel-following consonant rule. None
per- /pɜːr/ Open syllable, r-controlled vowel. Vowel-following consonant rule. None
me- /mi/ Open syllable, short vowel. Vowel-following consonant rule. None
a- /eɪ/ Open syllable, diphthong. Vowel-following consonant rule. None
bi- /bɪ/ Open syllable, short vowel. Vowel-following consonant rule. None
li- /lɪ/ Open syllable, short vowel. Vowel-following consonant rule. None
ty /ti/ Closed syllable, short vowel. Consonant cluster ending syllable. None

11. Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Following Consonant Rule: Each vowel sound is generally followed by a consonant, creating a syllable.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters at the end of a syllable are maintained together.

12. Special Considerations:

The length of the word and the presence of multiple vowels require careful application of the vowel-following consonant rule. The root "perme-" is consistently treated as a unit.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some regional variations might slightly alter vowel quality, but the syllable division remains consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/11/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.