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Hyphenation ofsweet-temperedness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

sweet-tem-pered-ness

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/ˌswiːt ˈtɛmpərdnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

1010

Primary stress falls on the second syllable ('tem'). Secondary stress on the first syllable ('sweet'). The final syllable is unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

sweet/swiːt/

Open syllable, containing a diphthong. Primary vowel sound.

tem/tɛm/

Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Contains a short vowel.

pered/pərd/

Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Contains a reduced vowel.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Contains a schwa vowel.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

(prefix)
+
sweet(root)
+
temperedness(suffix)

Prefix:

None

Root: sweet

Old English origin, adjective

Suffix: temperedness

Combination of verb past participle and noun-forming suffix

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality of having a pleasant, gentle, and easily controlled disposition.

Examples:

"Her sweet-temperedness was a comfort to everyone around her."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

kindnesskin-dness

Shares the '-ness' suffix, exhibiting similar syllabification.

bitternessbit-ter-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix, exhibiting similar syllabification.

quicknessquick-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix, exhibiting similar syllabification.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant (VC) Rule

A vowel followed by a consonant typically forms a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters following a vowel often remain within the same syllable.

Suffix Rule

Common suffixes often form separate syllables.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

The '-mp-' cluster in 'tempered' could potentially be split, but maintaining it within the syllable aligns with the principle of minimizing syllable complexity.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'sweet-temperedness' is divided into four syllables: sweet-tem-pered-ness. It consists of the root 'sweet', the root 'temper', the past tense marker '-ed', and the noun-forming suffix '-ness'. Primary stress falls on 'tem'. Syllabification follows standard English rules regarding vowel-consonant sequences and suffix separation.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "sweet-temperedness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "sweet-temperedness" is pronounced as /ˌswiːt ˈtɛmpərdnəs/ in General American English. It exhibits a complex structure with multiple morphemes and potential syllabification challenges due to consonant clusters.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word divides as follows: sweet-tem-pered-ness.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: None
  • Root: sweet (Old English swēte, meaning pleasant to the taste; extended metaphorically to disposition) - Adjective
  • Root: temper (Middle English temperen, from Old French temperer, from Latin temperare meaning to mix in due proportion) - Verb
  • Suffix: -ed (Old English -ed, past tense/participle marker) - Verb inflection
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes, forming abstract nouns denoting a state or quality) - Noun forming suffix

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable: /ˈtɛmpərd/. The first syllable, sweet, receives secondary stress.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌswiːt ˈtɛmpərdnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The consonant cluster "-mp-" in "tempered" presents a potential challenge. English generally prefers to break syllables before or after consonants, but the cluster is maintained within the syllable due to the close phonetic relationship of the sounds. The final "-ness" is a common suffix and readily forms a syllable.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Sweet-temperedness" functions exclusively as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context (as it's a derived noun).

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality of having a pleasant, gentle, and easily controlled disposition.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: gentleness, amiability, good nature, placidity, equanimity
  • Antonyms: irritability, bad temper, volatility, aggression
  • Examples: "Her sweet-temperedness was a comfort to everyone around her." "He admired her sweet-temperedness even when he was being difficult."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Kindness: kin-dness - Similar suffix "-ness", syllable division follows the same pattern.
  • Bitterness: bit-ter-ness - Similar suffix "-ness", syllable division follows the same pattern.
  • Quickness: quick-ness - Similar suffix "-ness", syllable division follows the same pattern.
    The consistent application of the "-ness" suffix as a separate syllable demonstrates a regular pattern in English morphology and syllabification.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

  • sweet: /swiːt/ - Open syllable, containing a diphthong. Syllable division rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s) typically forms a syllable.
  • tem: /tɛm/ - Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Syllable division rule: Consonant cluster following a vowel forms a syllable.
  • pered: /ˈpɛrd/ - Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Syllable division rule: Consonant cluster following a vowel forms a syllable.
  • ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable, ending in a consonant. Syllable division rule: Suffixes often form separate syllables.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Consonant (VC) Rule: A vowel followed by a consonant typically forms a syllable.
  2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters following a vowel often remain within the same syllable.
  3. Suffix Rule: Common suffixes often form separate syllables.

Special Considerations:

The "-mp-" cluster in "tempered" could potentially be split, but maintaining it within the syllable aligns with the principle of minimizing syllable complexity and preserving phonetic units.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation (e.g., the /iː/ in "sweet") might exist, but these do not significantly alter the syllabification.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the use of hyphens to join words or parts of words. It plays a crucial role in writing, ensuring clarity and readability.

In compound terms like 'check-in', the hyphen clarifies relationships between words. It also assists in breaking words at line ends, preserving flow and understanding, such as in 'tele-communication'. Hyphenation rules vary; some words lose their hyphens with common usage (e.g., 'email' from 'e-mail'). It's an evolving aspect of language, with guidelines differing across style manuals. Understanding hyphenation improves writing quality, making it an indispensable tool in effective communication.