Hyphenation ofundeflectability
Syllable Division:
un-def-lec-ta-bil-i-ty
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌʌndɪˈflɛktəbɪlɪti/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
0010010
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('lec'). Secondary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('i').
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, primary stress.
Open syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Open syllable, secondary stress.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: un-
Old English, negation
Root: flect
Latin *flectere* (to bend)
Suffix: ability
Latin *-abilitas*, denotes capacity or state of being; composed of *-able* and *-ity*
The quality or state of being unable to be bent, altered, or influenced.
Examples:
"The government showed a surprising degree of undeflectability in the face of public pressure."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Shares the '-ability' suffix and similar prefix structure.
Shares the '-ibility' suffix and a similar prefix structure.
Shares the '-ibility' suffix.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel-Consonant (VC) Pattern
Syllables often end in a vowel sound.
Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) Pattern
Common syllable structure, especially in closed syllables.
Stress Assignment
English stress is often unpredictable but tends to fall on the root or a nearby syllable.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The length of the word and multiple suffixes create a complex structure, but syllabification follows standard English rules.
Consonant cluster '-lect-' is retained in standard pronunciation.
Summary:
The word 'undeflectability' is divided into seven syllables: un-def-lec-ta-bil-i-ty. It consists of the prefix 'un-', the root 'flect', and the suffix 'ability'. Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('lec'). Syllabification follows standard English vowel-consonant and consonant-vowel-consonant patterns.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "undeflectability"
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "undeflectability" is a complex noun in English (US) pronunciation. It features multiple morphemes and presents challenges in syllabification due to its length and consonant clusters. The pronunciation is generally /ˌʌndɪflɛk.təˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/.
2. Syllable Division:
Following English syllabification rules, the word is divided as follows (using only original letters):
un-def-lec-ta-bil-i-ty
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
- Root: flect (Latin flectere - to bend) - Related to bending or changing.
- Suffix: -ability (Latin -abilitas) - Denotes a capacity or state of being. This suffix is composed of:
- -able (Latin -abilis) - Capable of being.
- -ity (Latin -itas) - State or quality of.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the third syllable: un-def-lec-ta-bil-i-ty. Secondary stress is present on the final syllable: un-def-lec-ta-bil-i-ty.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˌʌndɪˈflɛktəbɪlɪti/
6. Edge Case Review:
The consonant cluster "-lect-" can sometimes be simplified in rapid speech, but the standard pronunciation retains all consonants. The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is typical of English.
7. Grammatical Role:
"undeflectability" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context (as it's not inflected).
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The quality or state of being unable to be bent, altered, or influenced.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: inflexibility, rigidity, immutability
- Antonyms: flexibility, adaptability, malleability
- Examples: "The government showed a surprising degree of undeflectability in the face of public pressure."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- Improbability: im-prob-a-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix structure (-ability). Stress pattern is also comparable.
- Inflexibility: in-flex-i-bil-i-ty - Shares the "-ibility" suffix and a similar prefix structure. Stress falls on the second syllable.
- Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Again, the "-ibility" suffix is present. Stress falls on the third syllable.
The consistent presence of "-ibility" dictates a similar syllabic structure and stress pattern in these words. The differences in syllable division arise from the varying consonant and vowel combinations in the prefixes and roots.
Detailed Syllable Analysis:
| Syllable | IPA Transcription | Description | Rule Applied | Exceptions/Special Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| un | /ʌn/ | Open syllable, unstressed | Vowel-consonant pattern | Common prefix, vowel reduction |
| def | /dɛf/ | Closed syllable, unstressed | Consonant-vowel-consonant pattern | |
| lec | /lɛk/ | Closed syllable, primary stress | Consonant-vowel-consonant pattern | Consonant cluster -lect- |
| ta | /tə/ | Open syllable, unstressed | Vowel-consonant pattern | Schwa vowel |
| bil | /bɪl/ | Closed syllable, unstressed | Consonant-vowel-consonant pattern | |
| i | /ɪ/ | Open syllable, secondary stress | Vowel only | |
| ty | /ti/ | Closed syllable, unstressed | Vowel-consonant pattern |
Exceptions/Special Cases (Word-Level):
The length of the word and the presence of multiple suffixes create a complex structure. However, the syllabification follows standard English rules without major exceptions.
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel-Consonant (VC) Pattern: Syllables often end in a vowel sound.
- Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) Pattern: Common syllable structure, especially in closed syllables.
- Stress Assignment: English stress is often unpredictable but tends to fall on the root or a nearby syllable.
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