Hyphenation ofsupersulphurizing

Analysis of "supersulphurizing"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "supersulphurizing" is a complex word with multiple morphemes and potential pronunciation challenges due to the 'sulph' digraph and the -izing suffix. It's pronounced with initial /s/ followed by a blend, a stressed vowel, and a final suffix.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: super- (Latin, meaning "above," "over," or "excessively") - Function: Intensifier.
• Root: sulphur- (from Medieval Latin sulfur, ultimately from Arabic kibrīt) - Function: Denotes the element sulfur.
• Suffix: -izing (English, derived from -ize, ultimately from Greek -izein) - Function: Forms a present participle, indicating an ongoing action or process.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: su-per-sul-fur-iz-ing.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌsuːpərˈsʌlfjʊraɪzɪŋ/

6. Edge Case Review:

The 'sulph' digraph presents a potential edge case. While often pronounced /sʌlf/, it can also be /səlf/ in some dialects. The -izing suffix is generally straightforward, but the vowel quality before it can be influenced by the preceding syllable.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Supersulphurizing" functions primarily as a verb (present participle/gerund). Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Treating something with an excessive amount of sulfur; causing something to become highly sulfurous.
• Grammatical Category: Verb (present participle/gerund)
• Synonyms: sulfuring, sulfurizing (though "supersulphurizing" implies a greater degree)
• Antonyms: desulfurizing
• Examples: "The process involved supersulphurizing the ore to extract the valuable metals."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Similar Word 1: "supervising" - su-per-vi-sing. Similar stress pattern (third syllable). The difference lies in the consonant clusters following the prefix.
• Similar Word 2: "sulfurizing" - sul-fur-iz-ing. Stress on the first syllable of the root. The addition of the 'super-' prefix shifts the stress.
• Similar Word 3: "modernizing" - mo-der-niz-ing. Similar suffix structure (-izing). The syllable structure differs significantly in the root.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Onset-Rime Division: Separating syllables based on the consonant onset and vowel-containing rime.
2. Maximum Onset Principle: Assigning as many consonants as possible to the onset of the following syllable.
3. Vowel-Consonant Division: Dividing between vowel and consonant sounds.
4. Consonant Cluster Rule: Handling consonant clusters by assigning them to the syllable with the following vowel.

Special Considerations:

• The pronunciation of 'sulph' as /sʌlf/ or /səlf/ is a regional variation.
• The stress pattern is crucial for correct pronunciation and understanding.
• The -izing suffix is generally consistent in its syllabification.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

As mentioned, the 'sulph' digraph can be pronounced differently. This doesn't significantly alter the syllable division, but it affects the phonetic realization.