Hyphenation ofsober-headedness
Syllable Division:
so-ber-head-ed-ness
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˈsoʊbər ˈhɛdɪdnəs/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
10101
Primary stress falls on the first syllable ('so-') and the third syllable ('head-'). This is typical for compound words.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, diphthong.
Closed syllable.
Closed syllable.
Closed syllable, suffix.
Closed syllable, suffix.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: sober
Latin origin, meaning 'grave, dignified, temperate', adjective forming.
Root: head
Old English origin, meaning 'head', noun.
Suffix: edness
Combination of -ed (past tense/participle) and -ness (noun forming). -ed functions as part of the compound adjective here.
The quality or state of being serious, sensible, and calm; practicality and good judgment.
Examples:
"Her sober-headedness was invaluable during the crisis."
"He approached the problem with a remarkable degree of sober-headedness."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar syllable structure (CVC-CVC-CVC-CVC-CVC).
Similar suffix '-ity'.
Similar structure with a compound adjective base.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel-centric Syllabification
Syllables are generally built around vowel sounds.
Consonant Cluster Rule
Consonants following a vowel typically belong to the following syllable.
Suffix Attachment Rule
Suffixes are generally treated as separate syllables, especially when they contain vowels.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The compound nature of the word influences the stress pattern.
The 'ed' suffix can sometimes be reduced in rapid speech, but doesn't affect syllabification.
Summary:
The word 'sober-headedness' is divided into five syllables: so-ber-head-ed-ness. It's a noun formed from the prefix 'sober-', the root 'head', and the suffix '-edness'. Primary stress falls on the first and third syllables. Syllabification follows vowel-centric rules and suffix attachment principles.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "sober-headedness" (US English)
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "sober-headedness" is pronounced /ˈsoʊbər ˈhɛdɪdnəs/ in General American English. It consists of four syllables, with primary stress on the first and third syllables.
2. Syllable Division:
The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: so-ber-head-ed-ness
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: sober- (Latin sober, meaning "grave, dignified, temperate"). Morphological function: Adjective forming.
- Root: head- (Old English hēafod, meaning "head"). Morphological function: Noun.
- Suffix: -ed- (Old English -ed). Morphological function: Past tense/past participle marker, but here functions as part of the compound adjective.
- Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes, from -nessu). Morphological function: Noun forming (abstract noun).
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the first syllable ("so-") and the third syllable ("head"). This is typical for compound words and words with multiple morphemes.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˈsoʊbər ˈhɛdɪdnəs/
6. Edge Case Review:
The compound adjective "sober-headed" is relatively stable in its syllabification. There are no significant regional variations affecting syllable division.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Sober-headedness" functions solely as a noun. The syllabification and stress pattern remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The quality or state of being serious, sensible, and calm; practicality and good judgment.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: levelheadedness, rationality, prudence, sense, composure
- Antonyms: impulsiveness, recklessness, flightiness, irrationality
- Examples: "Her sober-headedness was invaluable during the crisis." "He approached the problem with a remarkable degree of sober-headedness."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- "understandable": un-der-stand-a-ble. Similar syllable structure (CVC-CVC-CVC-CVC-CVC). Stress pattern differs (un-der-STAND-a-ble).
- "responsibility": re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar suffix "-ity". Syllable division follows similar vowel-centric rules.
- "knowledgeable": knowl-edge-a-ble. Similar structure with a compound adjective base. Stress pattern differs (KNOWL-edge-a-ble).
Detailed Syllable Analysis:
| Syllable | IPA Transcription | Description | Rule Applied | Exceptions/Special Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| so | /soʊ/ | Open syllable, diphthong. | Vowel-centric division. | None |
| ber | /bər/ | Closed syllable. | Consonant cluster after vowel. | None |
| head | /hɛd/ | Closed syllable. | Vowel-centric division. | None |
| ed | /ɪd/ | Closed syllable. | Suffix attachment. | The 'ed' suffix can sometimes be reduced to /t/ in rapid speech, but doesn't affect syllabification. |
| ness | /nəs/ | Closed syllable. | Suffix attachment. | None |
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel-centric Syllabification: Syllables are generally built around vowel sounds.
- Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonants following a vowel typically belong to the following syllable.
- Suffix Attachment Rule: Suffixes are generally treated as separate syllables, especially when they contain vowels.
Special Considerations:
The compound nature of the word ("sober-headed") influences the stress pattern. The stress on "head" is due to its role as the core of the compound adjective.
Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
While the primary pronunciation is /ˈsoʊbər ˈhɛdɪdnəs/, some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "sober" to /sɒbər/. This doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.
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