Hyphenation ofunobjectionableness

Linguistic Analysis of "unobjectionableness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "unobjectionableness" 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 number of syllables present challenges.

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 (using only original letters):

un-ob-jec-tion-able-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
• Root: object (Latin obiectum – ‘thing thrown before’) - The core meaning relating to something presented or opposed.
• Suffix: -ion (Latin) - Nominalization, forming a noun from a verb.
• Suffix: -able (Latin abilis) - Adjectival suffix, meaning "capable of being".
• Suffix: -ness (Old English) - Nominalization, forming a noun denoting a state or quality.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the fourth syllable: ob-jec-tion-a-ble-ness. This is determined by the general rule that stress tends to fall on the penultimate syllable in words ending in -ness, -able, -ity, etc., unless overridden by other factors.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌn.əbˈdʒek.ʃən.ə.bl̩.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The syllable "bl̩" is a syllabic consonant. This occurs when a consonant forms a syllable nucleus, typically after a consonant cluster and before a following vowel. This is a common feature in English.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Unobjectionableness" functions solely as a noun. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality of being not objectionable; the state of not arousing opposition.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: acceptability, harmlessness, inoffensiveness, palatability
• Antonyms: offensiveness, objectionability, reprehensibility
• Example Usage: "Her calm demeanor and unobjectionableness made her a welcome guest at any gathering."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar syllable structure with multiple suffixes. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Understandability: un-der-stand-a-bil-i-ty. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.
• Accessibility: ac-ces-si-bil-i-ty. Similar suffix structure. Stress falls on the third syllable.

The key difference lies in the length and complexity of the root word. "Unobjectionableness" has a longer root ("object") compared to "understand" or "access," leading to a greater number of syllables. The presence of the syllabic consonant /bl̩/ is also unique to this word among the comparison set.

10. Division Rules:

• Vowel Rule: Each syllable must contain at least one vowel sound.
• Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters are generally assigned to the onset of the following syllable.
• Coda Minimization: Syllables tend to avoid complex codas (consonant clusters at the end of a syllable).
• Syllabic Consonant Rule: Consonants can form a syllable nucleus if they follow a consonant cluster and precede a vowel.

11. Special Considerations:

The word's length and multiple suffixes make it prone to mispronunciation or incorrect syllabification. The syllabic consonant /bl̩/ is a potential point of variation in pronunciation.