Hyphenation ofunself-possessed

Analysis of "unself-possessed"

1. Pronunciation: The word "unself-possessed" is pronounced /ʌnˈsɛlf pəˈzɛst/.

2. Syllable Division: un-self-pos-sess-ed

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
• Root: self (Old English) - Referring to the identity of the individual.
• Suffix: -possessed (French/Latin origin) - Past participle of possess, indicating a state of being without something. Broken down further: pos- (Latin posse - to be able) + -sess- (variant of -sess from Latin sessus - seated, established) + -ed (English past tense/participle marker).

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the third syllable, "pos". A secondary stress is present on the second syllable, "self".

5. Phonetic Transcription: /ʌnˈsɛlf pəˈzɛst/

6. Edge Case Review: The compound nature of the word and the presence of multiple morphemes can lead to ambiguity in syllable division. However, adhering to the principle of maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and avoiding stranded consonants guides the division.

7. Grammatical Role: "Unself-possessed" functions primarily as an adjective. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Not controlled by one's emotions; calm and composed, especially in a difficult situation.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: composed, serene, imperturbable, unflappable, collected
• Antonyms: agitated, flustered, nervous, anxious, upset
• Examples: "He remained remarkably unself-possessed during the crisis." "Her unself-possessed demeanor calmed the frightened children."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "unsuccessful": un-suc-cess-ful. Similar prefix un-, and a similar structure with multiple syllables. Stress falls on "cess".
• "unforgettable": un-for-get-ta-ble. Again, the un- prefix. Stress falls on "get".
• "self-conscious": self-con-scious. Shares the root "self". Stress falls on "scious".

The syllable division in all these words follows the same principles: maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants. The stress patterns differ based on the length and complexity of the root and suffixes.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

• un-: /ʌn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No consonant clusters to break up.
• self-: /sɛlf/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel closes the syllable. Potential exception: "self" can sometimes be considered a single morpheme, but syllabification still applies.
• pos-: /pɒs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel closes the syllable. Primary stress.
• sess-: /sɛs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel closes the syllable.
• ed-: /t/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Final consonant forms a syllable. Potential exception: The 'ed' suffix can sometimes be unstressed and elided, but here it maintains a distinct syllable.

Division Rules Applied:

• Vowel-Consonant (VC) Pattern: Syllables are often divided after a vowel followed by a consonant.
• Maximize Onsets: Consonant clusters are generally kept together at the beginning of a syllable (onset).
• Avoid Stranded Consonants: Consonants are not left alone to form a syllable.

Special Considerations:

• The compound nature of the word (prefix, root, suffix) requires careful consideration of morpheme boundaries.
• Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly alter the syllable division, but the core principles remain consistent.
• The 'ed' suffix can sometimes be reduced or elided in rapid speech, potentially affecting the syllable count, but for standard pronunciation, it is a distinct syllable.

Short Analysis:

"Unself-possessed" is a five-syllable adjective with primary stress on the third syllable ("pos"). It's formed from the prefix "un-", the root "self", and the suffix "-possessed". Syllable division follows standard English rules, maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants. The word describes a state of emotional composure.