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Hyphenation ofuncountermandable

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-coun-ter-man-da-ble

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

/ʌnˈkaʊntərˈmændəbl̩/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

011001

Primary stress on the third syllable (/ter/), secondary stress on the second syllable (/coun/). The remaining syllables are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

un/ʌn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

coun/kaʊn/

Open syllable, stressed.

ter/tər/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

man/mænd/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

da/də/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ble/bl̩/

Closed syllable, unstressed, syllabic consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

un-(prefix)
+
countermand(root)
+
-able(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English, negation

Root: countermand

Middle French, from contre 'against' + mander 'to command' (Latin mandare)

Suffix: -able

Latin -abilis, capable of being

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Not able to be revoked, canceled, or countermanded.

Examples:

"The judge issued an uncountermandable order."

"His decision was uncountermandable, leaving no room for appeal."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

understandableun-der-stand-a-ble

Similar prefix, root, and suffix structure; consistent stress pattern.

unforgettableun-for-get-ta-ble

Similar prefix and suffix structure; consistent stress pattern.

uncontrollableun-con-trol-la-ble

Similar prefix and suffix structure; consistent stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are often divided after vowels.

Consonant Cluster Division

When consonant clusters occur, division is based on sonority (increasing sonority towards the nucleus).

Syllabic Consonant Rule

A consonant can form a syllable nucleus if it is preceded by a consonant and followed by a consonant.

Special Considerations

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

Complex consonant clusters require careful application of sonority sequencing principles.

The final syllable exhibits a syllabic consonant, a common feature in US English.

Potential for dialectal variations in pronunciation (e.g., /tɛr/ instead of /tər/).

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'uncountermandable' is divided into six syllables: un-coun-ter-man-da-ble. It consists of the prefix 'un-', the root 'countermand', and the suffix '-able'. Primary stress falls on the third syllable. Syllabification follows vowel-consonant division and sonority principles, with a syllabic consonant in the final syllable.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "uncountermandable"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "uncountermandable" is a complex adjective in US English. Its pronunciation involves multiple morphemes and requires careful application of syllabification rules. It is generally pronounced as /ʌnˈkaʊntərˈmændəbl̩/.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only original letters, is: un-coun-ter-man-da-ble

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: countermand (Middle French, from contre 'against' + mander 'to command' (Latin mandare)) - To revoke or cancel an order.
  • Suffix: -able (Latin -abilis) - Capable of being; suffix forming adjectives.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: un-coun-ter-man-da-ble. A secondary stress appears on the second syllable: un-coun-ter-man-da-ble.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌnˈkaʊntərˈmændəbl̩/

6. Edge Case Review:

The presence of multiple consonant clusters (e.g., -ntər-, -mand-) requires careful consideration of sonority sequencing principles. The schwa /ə/ in the final syllable is common in unstressed syllables. The syllabic consonant /l̩/ is also a common feature in US English.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Uncountermandable" functions solely as an adjective. Its syllabification and stress pattern remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Not able to be revoked, canceled, or countermanded.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: irrevocable, unrescinded, unrepealable
  • Antonyms: revocable, rescindable, repealable
  • Examples: "The judge issued an uncountermandable order." "His decision was uncountermandable, leaving no room for appeal."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Understandable: un-der-stand-a-ble. Similar structure with prefix, root, and suffix. Stress on the third syllable.
  • Unforgettable: un-for-get-ta-ble. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress on the third syllable.
  • Uncontrollable: un-con-trol-la-ble. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress on the third syllable.

The consistent stress pattern on the third syllable in these words highlights a common pattern in English adjectives formed with the "un-" prefix and "-able" suffix. The differences in syllable division arise from the varying consonant clusters within the root morpheme.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
un /ʌn/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-consonant division None
coun /kaʊn/ Open syllable, stressed Vowel-consonant division None
ter /tər/ Closed syllable, unstressed Consonant cluster division, sonority principle Potential for /tɛr/ in some dialects
man /mænd/ Closed syllable, unstressed Vowel-consonant division None
da /də/ Open syllable, unstressed Vowel-consonant division Schwa reduction
ble /bl̩/ Closed syllable, unstressed Syllabic consonant, vowel deletion /bəl/ is also possible

Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):

The complex consonant clusters require careful application of sonority sequencing principles. The final syllable exhibits a syllabic consonant, a common feature in US English, which influences its pronunciation and syllabification.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are often divided after vowels.
  2. Consonant Cluster Division: When consonant clusters occur, division is based on sonority (increasing sonority towards the nucleus).
  3. Syllabic Consonant Rule: A consonant can form a syllable nucleus if it is preceded by a consonant and followed by a consonant.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

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