Hyphenation ofundernourishment
Syllable Division:
un-der-nour-ish-ment
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/ˌʌndərˈnʊrɪʃmənt/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
00010
Primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('ish'). The first, second, third, and fifth syllables are unstressed.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Closed syllable, stressed.
Closed syllable, unstressed.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: under
Old English origin, meaning 'too little' or 'below'.
Root: nourish
Old French from Latin 'nutrire', meaning 'to feed'.
Suffix: ment
Old French from Latin '-mentum', noun-forming suffix.
The condition of not receiving enough nourishment; malnutrition.
Examples:
"The doctor diagnosed the child with severe undernourishment."
"Undernourishment can lead to developmental delays."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Shares the '-ment' suffix and a similar stress pattern.
Shares the '-ment' suffix and a similar stress pattern.
Shares the '-ment' suffix and a similar stress pattern.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Maximize Onsets
Attempt to include as many initial consonants as possible in a syllable.
Avoid Stranded Consonants
Avoid leaving a single consonant at the end of a syllable without a following vowel.
Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (VCC)
Syllable break after the vowel.
Vowel-Consonant (VC)
Syllable break after the vowel.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The initial 'un-' prefix is a common feature in English and generally follows a clear syllabic separation.
Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a typical phonological process.
Summary:
The word 'undernourishment' is divided into five syllables: un-der-nour-ish-ment. The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable ('ish'). It consists of the prefix 'under-', the root 'nourish', and the suffix '-ment'. It functions as a noun meaning a lack of adequate nourishment.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "undernourishment"
1. Pronunciation Examination:
The word "undernourishment" is pronounced /ˌʌndərˈnʊrɪʃmənt/ in US English. It presents a challenge due to its length and complex morphology.
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: un-der-nour-ish-ment.
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: under- (Old English) - meaning "too little," "below," or "not enough." Function: Intensifier/Degree modifier.
- Root: nourish (Old French nourrir from Latin nutrire - "to suckle, feed") - meaning to provide with nourishment. Function: Core meaning of the word.
- Suffix: -ment (Old French –ment from Latin -mentum) - forms a noun from a verb, indicating action, result, or state. Function: Noun-forming suffix.
4. Stress Identification:
The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: /ˌʌndərˈnʊrɪʃmənt/. This is typical for words with the -ment suffix, where stress often falls on the syllable immediately preceding the suffix.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/ˌʌndərˈnʊrɪʃmənt/
6. Edge Case Review:
The "nour" portion could potentially be divided as "no-ur" but "nour" is the more common and phonologically justifiable division, aligning with the root's historical pronunciation.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Undernourishment" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress if it were to function as another part of speech.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: The condition of not receiving enough nourishment; malnutrition.
- Grammatical Category: Noun
- Synonyms: malnutrition, underfeeding, starvation
- Antonyms: overnutrition, nourishment, feeding
- Examples:
- "The doctor diagnosed the child with severe undernourishment."
- "Undernourishment can lead to developmental delays."
9. Phonological Comparison:
- Government: gov-ern-ment (3 syllables) - Similar suffix -ment, stress pattern is also on the syllable before the suffix.
- Establishment: es-tab-lish-ment (4 syllables) - Again, the -ment suffix dictates stress.
- Development: de-vel-op-ment (4 syllables) - Similar structure with a prefix, root, and -ment suffix. The stress pattern is consistent.
10. Syllable Analysis Breakdown:
- un-: /ʌn/ - Open syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant, syllable break before the consonant.
- der-: /dər/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel surrounded by consonants, syllable break after the vowel.
- nour-: /nʊr/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel surrounded by consonants, syllable break after the vowel.
- ish-: /ɪʃ/ - Closed syllable, stressed. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster, syllable break after the vowel.
- ment: /mənt/ - Closed syllable, unstressed. Rule: Vowel surrounded by consonants, syllable break after the vowel.
11. Special Considerations:
The initial "un-" prefix is a common feature in English and generally follows a clear syllabic separation. The vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a typical phonological process.
12. Division Rules:
- Maximize Onsets: Attempt to include as many initial consonants as possible in a syllable.
- Avoid Stranded Consonants: Avoid leaving a single consonant at the end of a syllable without a following vowel.
- Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (VCC): Syllable break after the vowel.
- Vowel-Consonant (VC): Syllable break after the vowel.
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