HyphenateIt

Hyphenation ofuncooperativeness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-co-op-er-a-tive-ness

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

/ʌnˈkuːpərətɪvnəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0000100

Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('a'). The stress pattern is typical for words of this length and morphological structure.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

un/ʌn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

co/koʊ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

op/pər/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

er/ər/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

a/ə/

Open syllable, stressed.

tive/tɪv/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

ness/nəs/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

un-(prefix)
+
cooper-(root)
+
-ate-ive-ness(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English, negation

Root: cooper-

Middle English/Latin, to work together

Suffix: -ate-ive-ness

Latin/Old English, verb/adjective/noun forming

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of not being cooperative; unwillingness to work with others.

Examples:

"His uncooperativeness hindered the investigation."

"The team's lack of success was due to the uncooperativeness of several key players."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

happinesshap-pi-ness

Shares the '-ness' suffix and a similar stress pattern.

uncertaintyun-cer-tain-ty

Shares the 'un-' prefix and a similar morphological structure.

responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Shares the '-ity' suffix and a complex morphological structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Attempting to create the largest possible consonant clusters as onsets.

Vowel-Coda Rule

Syllables generally end in a vowel sound unless blocked by a consonant.

Stress-Timing

English is a stress-timed language, influencing syllable duration and vowel reduction.

Special Considerations

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

The 'coop' cluster is treated as a single unit due to co-articulation.

Schwa reduction is common in unstressed syllables.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'uncooperativeness' is syllabified as un-co-op-er-a-tive-ness, with primary stress on the fifth syllable. It's a complex noun formed through multiple affixations, following standard US English syllabification rules based on vowel-coda structure and onset maximization.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "uncooperativeness"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "uncooperativeness" is a complex noun in US English, formed through multiple affixations. Its pronunciation involves a relatively straightforward application of English phonological rules, though the length and complexity present challenges in syllabification.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): un-co-op-er-a-tive-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: cooper- (Middle English, from Old French coopérer, ultimately from Latin cooperare - to work together).
  • Suffixes:
    • -ate (Latin) - Verb forming suffix.
    • -ive (Latin) - Adjective forming suffix.
    • -ness (Old English) - Noun forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: un-co-op-er-a-tive-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌnˈkuːpərətɪvnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "-er-a-" is a common pattern in English, and syllabification follows the principle of maximizing onsets. The "coop" cluster is treated as a single unit due to co-articulation.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Uncooperativeness" 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 quality or state of not being cooperative; unwillingness to work with others.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: non-cooperation, unhelpfulness, obstructiveness, defiance
  • Antonyms: cooperation, helpfulness, compliance, collaboration
  • Examples: "His uncooperativeness hindered the investigation." "The team's lack of success was due to the uncooperativeness of several key players."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Happiness: hap-pi-ness. Similar suffix "-ness", stress on the second syllable.
  • Uncertainty: un-cer-tain-ty. Similar prefix "un-", stress pattern differs due to root vowel quality.
  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar suffix "-ity", longer word with more syllables, stress on the third syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the varying vowel qualities and syllable weights within the root morphemes. "Uncooperativeness" has a longer root and a more complex vowel structure, leading to stress on the 'a' in '-a-tive'.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
un /ʌn/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-Consonant-Coda-less None
co /koʊ/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-Consonant-Coda-less None
op /pər/ Closed syllable, unstressed Consonant-Vowel-Consonant None
er /ər/ Closed syllable, unstressed Consonant-Vowel-Consonant None
a /ə/ Open syllable, stressed Vowel-Coda-less Schwa reduction common in unstressed syllables
tive /tɪv/ Closed syllable, unstressed Consonant-Vowel-Consonant None
ness /nəs/ Closed syllable, unstressed Consonant-Vowel-Consonant None

Division Rules Applied:

  • Onset Maximization: Attempting to create the largest possible consonant clusters as onsets.
  • Vowel-Coda Rule: Syllables generally end in a vowel sound unless blocked by a consonant.
  • Stress-Timing: English is a stress-timed language, influencing syllable duration and vowel reduction.

Special Considerations:

The "coop" cluster is treated as a single unit due to co-articulation. The schwa sound in the stressed syllable is common in English.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some regional variations might exhibit slight differences in vowel quality, but the core syllabification remains consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

The hottest word splits in English (US)

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

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.