Hyphenation ofunintermittedness

Linguistic Analysis of "unintermittedness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "unintermittedness" is a complex noun formed through multiple affixations. 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-in-ter-mit-ted-ness.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
• Root: intermitt- (Latin intermittere - to break off, interrupt) - The core meaning of stopping and starting.
• Suffix: -ed (English) - Past tense/participle marker, here functioning as an adjectival component.
• Suffix: -ness (English) - Noun-forming suffix, denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: mit. The stress pattern is largely determined by the length of the word and the presence of multiple suffixes.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌnˌɪntərˈmɪtɪdnəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence /tɪd/ can sometimes be reduced in rapid speech, but the standard pronunciation maintains all segments. The vowel in the final syllable is often reduced to a schwa /ə/.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Unintermittedness" 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 not morphologically adaptable in that way.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The state of being without interruption; continuousness.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: continuity, persistence, constancy, unbrokenness
• Antonyms: interruption, discontinuity, intermittence
• Examples: "The unintermittedness of the rain was depressing." "Her unintermittedness in pursuing her goals was admirable."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "uninterrupted": un-in-ter-rup-ted (4 syllables). Similar structure, stress on rup. The difference lies in the final suffix.
• "intermittent": in-ter-mit-tent (4 syllables). Stress on mit. Demonstrates the root syllable's tendency to attract stress.
• "remittent": re-mit-tent (3 syllables). Stress on mit. Shows how the root syllable remains stressed even with a different prefix.

Syllable Breakdown Details:

• un-: /ʌn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllable division before a vowel. No exceptions.
• in-: /ɪn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel forms a syllable. No exceptions.
• ter-: /tər/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster following a vowel forms a syllable. Potential exception: some speakers might pronounce this as /tɛr/.
• mit-: /mɪt/ - Closed syllable, primary stress. Rule: Stress typically falls on the penultimate syllable in words with multiple suffixes. No exceptions.
• ted-: /tɪd/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel forms a syllable. Potential exception: reduction to /təd/ in rapid speech.
• ness: /nəs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel forms a syllable. No exceptions.

Exceptions & Special Cases:

The primary exception considered is the potential for vowel reduction in unstressed syllables, particularly the final /nəs/ becoming /nəs/. However, the full pronunciation is considered standard.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Initial Syllable: Syllables begin with vowels.
2. Maximize Onsets: Consonant clusters are generally kept together at the beginning of a syllable.
3. Consonant-Vowel Pattern: A consonant following a vowel typically forms a new syllable.