Hyphenation ofsemirespectability
Syllable Division:
se-mi-re-spect-a-bil-i-ty
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌsɛmiːrɪˌspɛktəˈbɪləti/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
00010101
Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable, '-bil-'. The first three syllables are unstressed, followed by a stressed syllable, then unstressed, stressed, and finally unstressed.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, initial syllable.
Open syllable.
Open syllable.
Closed syllable, consonant cluster.
Open syllable, schwa sound.
Closed syllable, primary stress.
Open syllable.
Closed syllable.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: semi-
Latin origin, meaning 'half' or 'partly', degree modifier.
Root: respect
Latin origin (*respicere*), core meaning of esteem.
Suffix: -ability
French/Latin origin, forms a noun denoting capability or quality.
The state of having some, but not complete, respectability.
Examples:
"His semirespectability allowed him access to certain social circles, but he was never fully accepted."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Shares the '-bil-i-ty' suffix and similar stress pattern.
Shares the '-bil-i-ty' suffix and similar stress pattern.
Shares the '-bil-i-ty' suffix and similar stress pattern.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel Division
Vowels generally form syllable nuclei.
Consonant Clusters
Consonant clusters are often broken after the first consonant if a vowel follows.
Stress Placement
Stress influences syllable prominence and can affect vowel reduction (schwa).
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The prefix 'semi-' can sometimes be elided in rapid speech.
The schwa sound in the 'a-' syllable is common in unstressed positions.
Summary:
The word 'semirespectability' is divided into eight syllables: se-mi-re-spect-a-bil-i-ty. It consists of the prefix 'semi-', the root 'respect', and the suffix '-ability'. The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable '-bil-'. Syllabification follows vowel division and consonant cluster rules, with consideration for the schwa sound and potential elision of the prefix.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "semirespectability"
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "semirespectability" is pronounced /ˌsɛmiːrɪˌspɛktəˈbɪləti/ in General American English. It presents challenges due to the prefix "semi-", the complex consonant clusters, and the multiple schwas.
2. Syllable Division:
Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: se-mi-re-spect-a-bil-i-ty.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: semi- (Latin, meaning "half" or "partly"). Morphological function: degree modifier.
- Root: respect (Latin respicere - to look back at, to regard). Morphological function: core meaning of esteem.
- Suffix: -ability (French abilité via Latin -abilitas). Morphological function: forms a noun denoting capability or quality.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: /ˌsɛmiːrɪˌspɛktəˈbɪləti/. Specifically, on the syllable "-bil-".
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˌsɛmiːrɪˌspɛktəˈbɪləti/
6. Edge Case Review:
The "semi-" prefix can sometimes be considered a weak syllable, but in this case, it carries enough weight to be a distinct syllable. The consonant cluster "-spect-" is relatively common and doesn't present a significant exception.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Semirespectability" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if it were to function as another part of speech, as it is a derived noun.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The state of having some, but not complete, respectability. A moderate degree of being considered worthy of esteem.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: partial respect, limited esteem, questionable reputation
- Antonyms: full respectability, high esteem, good reputation
- Examples: "His semirespectability allowed him access to certain social circles, but he was never fully accepted."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar syllable structure, stress on "-bil-".
- Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty. Again, "-bil-i-ty" is a common ending, stress on "-bil-".
- Improbability: im-prob-a-bil-i-ty. Similar structure, stress on "-bil-".
The consistent stress on "-bil-" in these words demonstrates the typical stress pattern for words ending in "-ability" or "-ibility". The initial syllables vary based on the prefix or root, but the final syllable structure remains consistent.
Detailed Syllable Analysis:
- se- /sɛ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. Exception: Initial syllable, often considered open even if followed by a consonant cluster in the next syllable.
- mi- /miː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
- re- /rɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
- spect- /spɛkt/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by vowel, then consonant.
- a- /ə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel. Schwa sound.
- bil- /ˈbɪl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by vowel. Primary stress.
- i- /ɪ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel.
- ty /ti/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel Division: Vowels generally form syllable nuclei.
- Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are often broken after the first consonant if a vowel follows.
- Stress Placement: Stress influences syllable prominence and can affect vowel reduction (schwa).
Special Considerations:
The prefix "semi-" can sometimes be elided in rapid speech, but for formal syllabification, it is treated as a separate syllable. The schwa sound in the "a-" syllable is common in unstressed positions.
Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "semi-", making it closer to /sɪmi/ but the syllable division remains the same.
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