Hyphenation ofstrait-lacedness
Syllable Division:
strait-laced-ness
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/streɪt ˈleɪst ˌnɛsnəs/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
010
Primary stress falls on the second syllable ('laced'). The first ('strait') and third ('ness') syllables are unstressed.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, stressed.
Closed syllable, primary stress.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: strait
Old French origin, meaning 'narrow, tight', adjectival modifier.
Root: lace
Old French origin, meaning 'to lace', verb forming part of the compound adjective.
Suffix: ed
English, past participle forming part of the compound adjective.
The quality of being rigidly conventional and severely moral.
Examples:
"Her strait-laced upbringing made it difficult for her to accept modern art."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Similar structure with a single-syllable root followed by '-ness'.
Similar structure with a single-syllable root followed by '-ness'.
Similar structure with a single-syllable root followed by '-ness'.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel Team Rule
Division before the vowel team 'ai' in 'strait'.
Consonant Cluster Rule
Division after the 'l' consonant in 'laced', as it's a permissible onset.
Suffix Rule
'-ness' is a suffix and is separated as a distinct syllable.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The compound adjective 'strait-laced' is relatively fixed in its pronunciation and syllabification.
Regional variations are minimal.
Summary:
The word 'strait-lacedness' is divided into three syllables: 'strait-laced-ness'. It consists of the prefix 'strait', root 'lace', and suffixes '-ed' and '-ness'. Primary stress falls on 'laced'. The syllabification follows vowel team, consonant cluster, and suffix division rules.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "strait-lacedness"
1. Pronunciation: The word "strait-lacedness" is pronounced /streɪt ˈleɪst ˌnɛsnəs/ in US English.
2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: strait-laced-ness
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: strait- (Old French estreit meaning 'narrow, tight'). Function: Adjectival modifier.
- Root: lace (Old French lacier meaning 'to lace'). Function: Verb, forming part of the compound adjective.
- Suffix: -ed (English). Function: Past participle, forming part of the compound adjective.
- Suffix: -ness (English). Function: Noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.
4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the second syllable: /streɪt ˈleɪst ˌnɛsnəs/.
5. Phonetic Transcription: /streɪt ˈleɪst ˌnɛsnəs/
6. Edge Case Review: The sequence "ait" in "strait" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, it functions as a single unit within the first syllable. The "-ed" suffix, while often pronounced /t/ or /d/, maintains its full syllabic weight here.
7. Grammatical Role: "Strait-lacedness" functions solely as a noun. There are no syllabification or stress shifts for other parts of speech.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The quality of being rigidly conventional and severely moral.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: rigidity, conventionality, prudishness, conservatism
- Antonyms: liberalism, flexibility, open-mindedness
- Examples: "Her strait-laced upbringing made it difficult for her to accept modern art."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- Brightness: bright-ness (3 syllables). Similar structure with a single-syllable root followed by "-ness".
- Tightness: tight-ness (2 syllables). Similar structure with a single-syllable root followed by "-ness".
- Weakness: weak-ness (2 syllables). Similar structure with a single-syllable root followed by "-ness".
The difference in syllable count arises from the compound adjective "strait-laced" having two syllables, while "bright," "tight," and "weak" are single-syllable words.
10. Division Rules:
- Vowel Team Rule: "strait" is divided before the vowel team "ai".
- Consonant Cluster Rule: "laced" is divided after the "l" consonant, as it's a permissible onset for a syllable.
- Suffix Rule: "-ness" is a suffix and is separated as a distinct syllable.
11. Special Considerations: The compound adjective "strait-laced" is relatively fixed in its pronunciation and syllabification. Regional variations are minimal.
12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: While the pronunciation is fairly standard, some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in the unstressed syllables. This wouldn't significantly alter the syllable division.
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