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Hyphenation ofuncommunicativeness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-com-mu-ni-ca-tive-ness

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

/ʌn.kəˈmjuː.nɪ.keɪ.tɪv.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0000100

Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('ca-'). The stress pattern is influenced by the length of the word and the presence of multiple suffixes.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

un/ʌn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

com/kəm/

Open syllable, unstressed.

mu/mjuː/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ni/nɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ca/keɪ/

Open syllable, stressed.

tive/tɪv/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ness/nəs/

Open syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

un(prefix)
+
communicat(root)
+
ive(suffix)

Prefix: un

Old English, negation

Root: communicat

Latin communicare - to share, impart

Suffix: ive

Latin -ivus, adjective forming

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The state or quality of not being communicative; a lack of willingness or ability to express oneself.

Examples:

"His uncommunicativeness made it difficult to understand his feelings."

"The patient's uncommunicativeness was a concern for the doctors."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Similar structure with multiple suffixes.

Inaccessibilityin-ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty

Similar prefix and suffix structure.

Impossibilityim-pos-si-bil-i-ty

Similar prefix and suffix structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Rule

Each syllable must contain at least one vowel sound.

Onset Maximization

Consonant clusters are generally kept together at the beginning of a syllable.

Affix Separation

Prefixes and suffixes are generally separated into their own syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The length of the word and the multiple suffixes make it a complex case.

Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a common phenomenon in English.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'uncommunicativeness' is divided into seven syllables: un-com-mu-ni-ca-tive-ness. The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('ca-'). It is a noun formed from the root 'communicat-' with the prefixes 'un-' and suffixes '-ive' and '-ness'. Syllable division follows vowel rules, onset maximization, and affix separation.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "uncommunicativeness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "uncommunicativeness" is a complex word with multiple morphemes. Its pronunciation in US English involves a relatively straightforward application of English phonological rules, though the length and number of syllables present challenges.

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 (using only original letters):

un-com-mu-ni-ca-tive-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: communicat- (Latin communicare - to share, impart) - The core meaning of conveying information.
  • Suffix: -ive (Latin -ivus) - Adjective forming suffix, meaning "relating to".
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes) - Noun forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: ca-. The stress pattern is largely determined by the length of the word and the presence of multiple suffixes.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌn.kəˈmjuː.nɪ.keɪ.tɪv.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-tive" can sometimes be a point of variation, but in this case, it's a standard syllable division. The length of the word and the multiple suffixes contribute to the complexity.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Uncommunicativeness" 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 state or quality of not being communicative; a lack of willingness or ability to express oneself.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: taciturnity, reticence, unresponsiveness, aloofness
  • Antonyms: communicativeness, loquacity, talkativeness
  • Examples: "His uncommunicativeness made it difficult to understand his feelings." "The patient's uncommunicativeness was a concern for the doctors."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • Inaccessibility: in-ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty - Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress falls on the fourth syllable.
  • Impossibility: im-pos-si-bil-i-ty - Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the varying lengths of the root and the specific vowel sounds within each word. "Uncommunicativeness" has a longer root ("communicat-") which influences the stress pattern.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Rule: Each syllable must contain at least one vowel sound.
  • Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters are generally kept together at the beginning of a syllable (e.g., "com-").
  • Coda Minimization: Avoid ending syllables with complex consonant clusters.
  • Affix Separation: Prefixes and suffixes are generally separated into their own syllables.

11. Special Considerations:

The length of the word and the multiple suffixes make it a complex case. The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a common phenomenon in English.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents the most common US English pronunciation, slight variations may occur in different regional accents. These variations are unlikely to significantly alter the syllable division.

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

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.