Hyphenation ofunattackableness

Linguistic Analysis of "unattackableness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "unattackableness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a series of stressed and unstressed syllables. The primary stress falls on the third syllable.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): un-at-tack-a-ble-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
• Root: attack (Old French atake from a- 'to' + taquer 'to tap, strike') - To fall upon with force.
• Suffix: -able (Latin -abilis) - Capable of being.
• Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes) - State or quality of.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: un-at-tack-a-ble-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌn.əˈtæk.ə.bl̩.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The presence of multiple suffixes and the relatively long sequence of consonants in "attack" require careful consideration. The schwa sound /ə/ is common in unstressed syllables. The syllabic consonant /bl̩/ in "ble" is a common feature of English phonology.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Unattackableness" functions solely as a noun, denoting the quality of not being able to be attacked. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function (as it only has one).

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The state or quality of being unable to be attacked; invulnerability.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: invulnerability, impregnability, defensibility
• Antonyms: vulnerability, attackability
• Examples: "The fortress's unattackableness was legendary." "Her unattackableness in the face of criticism was admirable."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Impenetrableness: im-pen-e-tra-ble-ness. Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress falls on the fourth syllable.
• Unbreakableness: un-break-a-ble-ness. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress falls on the second syllable.
• Unmanageableness: un-man-age-a-ble-ness. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the inherent sonority and weight of the root morphemes. "Attack" is a relatively heavy syllable, attracting stress.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Consonant (VC) Division: Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant (e.g., un-at).
2. Consonant Blend Division: Consonant blends (e.g., "bl") are generally kept together within a syllable.
3. Stress Placement: Primary stress typically falls on the penultimate syllable in words of Latin origin, but can be influenced by the weight of the root.
4. Syllabic Consonant Rule: /l/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/ can form syllables on their own when following a consonant.

Special Considerations:

The word's length and complex morphology present challenges. The schwa reduction in unstressed syllables is a common phenomenon in English. The syllabic consonant /bl̩/ is a relatively uncommon but accepted pronunciation.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "attack" to a schwa, but the primary stress remains on that syllable. Regional accents could influence vowel quality.