Hyphenation oftwice-prosecuted

Linguistic Analysis of "twice-prosecuted"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "twice-prosecuted" is a complex word formed through compounding and affixation. Its pronunciation in US English involves a blend of stressed and unstressed syllables, with the stress falling on the third syllable ("se"). The 'c' in 'prosecuted' is pronounced /k/ in US English.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and avoiding stranded consonants, is as follows:

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: twice- (Old English twī- meaning 'two'; functions as an intensifier)
• Root: prosecute (Latin prosequi meaning 'to pursue, follow up'; verb denoting legal action)
• Suffix: -ed (Old English -ed; past tense marker)

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: twice-pro-se-cu-ted.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/twaɪs ˈproʊsɪˌkjuːtɪd/

6. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of the word and the presence of multiple morphemes require careful consideration. The 'prosecute' root itself has internal syllable structure that needs to be accounted for.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Twice-prosecuted" functions primarily as a past participle adjective, modifying a noun. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Having been legally prosecuted two times.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective (past participle)
• Synonyms: Double-indicted, doubly prosecuted
• Antonyms: Acquitted, exonerated
• Examples: "The twice-prosecuted defendant maintained his innocence."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "misconducted": mi-scon-duct-ed. Similar structure with a prefix and a complex verb root. Stress falls on the 'duct' syllable.
• "re-examined": re-e-xam-ined. Similar prefix and past tense suffix. Stress falls on the 'xam' syllable.
• "disregarded": dis-re-gar-ded. Similar prefix and past tense suffix. Stress falls on the 'gar' syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the inherent rhythmic patterns of the root words and the influence of the prefixes.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters are generally kept together as onsets (e.g., "pro").
2. Vowel Digraphs/Diphthongs: Vowel combinations are treated as single vowel sounds within a syllable (e.g., "twice").
3. Suffix Attachment: Suffixes are generally separated into their own syllables (e.g., "-ed").
4. Avoid Stranded Consonants: Consonants are not left at the end of a syllable unless they are part of a consonant cluster.

Special Considerations:

• The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of the boundaries between morphemes.
• The pronunciation of the 'c' in 'prosecuted' as /k/ in US English is a key feature.
• Regional variations in pronunciation could affect syllable division, but the analysis presented here reflects standard US English.

Short Analysis:

"Twice-prosecuted" is a five-syllable word with primary stress on the third syllable. It's formed from the prefix "twice-", the root "prosecute", and the suffix "-ed". Syllabification follows rules of onset maximization, vowel digraphs, and suffix attachment. It functions as an adjective describing someone who has undergone legal prosecution twice.