Hyphenation ofsuperrespectability

Linguistic Analysis of "superrespectability"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "superrespectability" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a blend of stressed and unstressed syllables, with a tendency towards vowel reduction in unstressed positions.

2. Syllable Division:

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

su-per-re-spect-a-bil-i-ty

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: super- (Latin, meaning "above," "over," or "excessively") - intensifier.
• Root: respect (Latin respicere - to look back at, to regard) - core meaning of esteem.
• Suffix: -ability (French abilité from Latin habilitas - capability, quality of being able) - forms a noun denoting the quality of being respectable.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: re-spect-a-bil-i-ty. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ity, -able, -ible, etc., unless overridden by other factors (like a strong prefix).

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsuːpərˌrɛspɛktəˈbɪlɪti/

6. Edge Case Review:

The combination of multiple prefixes and suffixes, along with the inherent complexity of the root, presents a potential edge case. However, the syllabification follows standard English patterns.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Superrespectability" 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 quality of being extremely respectable; an exceptionally high degree of respectability.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: high regard, esteem, honor, dignity
• Antonyms: disrepute, ignominy, shame, scandal
• Examples: "Her superrespectability made her a pillar of the community." "The family's superrespectability was carefully cultivated over generations."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Similar syllable structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
• Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty - Similar syllable structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
• Improbability: im-prob-a-bil-i-ty - Similar syllable structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.

The consistent stress pattern on the penultimate syllable in these words ending in "-ibility" demonstrates the regularity of English stress rules. The difference in the initial syllables reflects the different prefixes and roots.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

• su-: /suː/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Initial syllable, vowel followed by consonant.
• per-: /pər/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
• re-: /rɛ/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
• spect-: /spɛkt/ - Closed syllable, stressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster.
• a-: /ə/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel sound in an unstressed position.
• bil-: /bɪl/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster.
• i-: /ɪ/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel sound in an unstressed position.
• ty: /ti/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.

Exceptions/Special Cases:

• The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables (e.g., /ə/ in "a-") is a common phonetic phenomenon in English.
• The stress pattern is relatively predictable given the word's morphology and ending.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel sound followed by a consonant sound (e.g., su-per, re-spect).
2. Consonant Cluster Division: When a consonant cluster separates vowel sounds, the cluster is typically maintained within a syllable (e.g., spect-).
3. Suffix Division: Suffixes are generally separated into their own syllables (e.g., -abil-i-ty).