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Hyphenation ofundiscriminativeness

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

un-dis-crim-i-na-tive-ness

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

/ˌʌn.dɪˈskrɪm.ɪ.neɪ.tɪv.nəs/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0000100

Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('na-'). This is typical for words of this length and complexity, influenced by the suffix '-ness'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

un/ʌn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

dis/dɪs/

Open syllable, unstressed.

crim/krɪm/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

i/ɪ/

Open syllable, unstressed.

na/neɪ/

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)
+
discern(root)
+
-ive/-ness(suffix)

Prefix: un-

Old English, negation

Root: discern

Latin *discernere*, to separate, distinguish

Suffix: -ive/-ness

Latin/Old English, adjective/noun forming suffixes

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The quality or state of being impartial and fair; lack of prejudice or bias.

Examples:

"Her decision was praised for its undiscriminativeness."

"The judge was known for his undiscriminativeness and commitment to justice."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

Responsibilityre-spon-si-bil-i-ty

Similar syllable structure with multiple suffixes.

Understandablyun-der-stand-a-bly

Similar prefix and complex structure.

Impossibilityim-pos-si-bil-i-ty

Similar suffix structure and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Consonant clusters are kept together at the beginning of syllables (e.g., 'dis-', 'crim-').

Vowel Peak Principle

Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.

Avoidance of Stranded Consonants

Consonants are not left at the end of a syllable without a vowel sound.

Stress-Timing

English is a stress-timed language, meaning that stressed syllables occur at relatively regular intervals, influencing syllable duration.

Special Considerations

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

Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a significant factor. The /ɪ/ sound in 'crim' and 'tive' may be reduced to /ə/ (schwa) in rapid speech.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'undiscriminativeness' is divided into seven syllables: un-dis-crim-i-na-tive-ness. Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('na-'). It's a noun formed from the root 'discern' with the prefixes 'un-' and suffixes '-ive' and '-ness'. Syllabification follows rules of onset maximization and vowel peak principle, with potential for vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "undiscriminativeness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "undiscriminativeness" 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 complexity can lead to variations in stress and vowel reduction.

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-dis-crim-i-na-tive-ness.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
  • Root: discern (Latin discernere - to separate, distinguish) - The base meaning of distinguishing.
  • Suffix: -ive (Latin) - Adjective forming suffix, meaning "having the quality of".
  • Suffix: -ness (Old English) - Noun forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fifth syllable: na- (in "na-tive-ness"). This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words of this length and complexity, and is influenced by the presence of the suffix "-ness".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˌʌn.dɪˈskrɪm.ɪ.neɪ.tɪv.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The word is relatively straightforward in its syllabification. However, vowel reduction in unstressed syllables (particularly the first, third, and sixth) is common and can lead to slight variations in pronunciation.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word functions solely as a noun. There are no significant shifts in syllabification or stress if it were to hypothetically function as another part of speech.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The quality or state of being impartial and fair; lack of prejudice or bias.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun
  • Synonyms: impartiality, fairness, objectivity, equanimity
  • Antonyms: discrimination, prejudice, bias, partiality
  • Examples: "Her decision was praised for its undiscriminativeness." "The judge was known for his undiscriminativeness and commitment to justice."

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty - Similar syllable structure with multiple suffixes. Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • Understandably: un-der-stand-a-bly - Similar prefix and complex structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.
  • Impossibility: im-pos-si-bil-i-ty - Similar suffix structure and stress pattern. Stress falls on the third syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the varying lengths of the root and the specific suffixes attached. "Undiscriminativeness" has a longer root and a different combination of suffixes, leading to a shift in the primary stress.

10. Division Rules:

  • Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters are kept together at the beginning of syllables (e.g., "dis-", "crim-").
  • Vowel Peak Principle: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
  • Avoidance of Stranded Consonants: Consonants are not left at the end of a syllable without a vowel sound.
  • Stress-Timing: English is a stress-timed language, meaning that stressed syllables occur at relatively regular intervals, influencing syllable duration.

11. Special Considerations:

Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables is a significant factor. The /ɪ/ sound in "crim" and "tive" may be reduced to /ə/ (schwa) in rapid speech.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/5/2025

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Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.