Hyphenation ofsuperobstinateness

Analysis of "superobstinateness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "superobstinateness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a blend of Latinate and Germanic influences. The stress pattern is crucial for accurate syllabification.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: super- (Latin, meaning "above," "over," or "excessively") - modifies the intensity of the root.
• Root: obstinate- (Latin obstinatus, past participle of obstinare "to stand firm, be stubborn") - the core meaning of being unyielding.
• Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes, from -nessu) - forms a noun denoting a quality or state.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: su-per-ob-sti-nate-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsuːpərɒbˈstɪneɪtnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-sti-" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, the stress and the presence of the vowel 'e' dictate the division.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if it were to be used in a different grammatical context, as it is not adaptable to other parts of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of being extremely stubborn or unyielding.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: intransigence, obduracy, inflexibility, stubbornness
• Antonyms: compliance, flexibility, yieldingness
• Example Usage: "His superobstinateness made any negotiation impossible."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• obstinacy: ob-sti-na-cy (/əbˈstɪnəsi/) - Similar structure, stress on the second syllable. The addition of "-ness" shifts the stress.
• supernatural: su-per-nat-u-ral (/ˌsuːpərˈnæʧərəl/) - Shares the "super-" prefix, but different root and stress pattern.
• tenaciousness: te-na-cious-ness (/təˈneɪʃəsnəs/) - Similar suffix "-ness", but different root and stress pattern. The syllable structure differs significantly.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel followed by Consonant: Syllables are often divided after a vowel when followed by a consonant (e.g., su-per, ob-sti).
2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often kept together within a syllable (e.g., sti, ness).
3. Suffix Rule: Suffixes are generally separated as individual syllables (e.g., -ness).

Special Considerations:

The word's length and multiple morphemes make it a complex case. The stress pattern is key to accurate division. The "ob-" prefix is often treated as a single syllable unit.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "super" to /sʊpər/, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllabification. Regional accents might affect vowel quality, but the core syllable structure remains consistent.