Hyphenation ofunsupportableness

Linguistic Analysis of "unsupportableness"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "unsupportableness" 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 slight variations in tempo and vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

Following English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters): un-sup-port-a-ble-ness

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: un- (Old English) - Negation.
• Root: support (Latin supportere - to bear up) - To hold up, provide assistance.
• Suffix: -able (Latin -abilis) - Capable of being.
• Suffix: -ness (Old English -nes) - State or quality of being.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: un-sup-port-a-ble-ness.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʌn.səˈpɔːrt.ə.bl̩.nəs/

6. Edge Case Review:

The schwa /ə/ is common in unstressed syllables. The syllabic consonant /l̩/ in "ble" is a common feature of English phonology, where /l/ can function as a syllable nucleus when following an obstruent and not followed by a vowel.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Unsupportableness" functions solely as a noun. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context (as it's not inflected).

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The quality or state of being incapable of providing support; lack of supportability.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Synonyms: insupportability, unhelpfulness, uselessness
• Antonyms: supportiveness, helpfulness, reliability
• Examples: "The unsupportableness of his claims led to their dismissal."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsibility: re-spon-si-bil-i-ty. Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress on the third syllable.
• Understandable: un-der-stand-a-ble. Similar prefix and suffix structure. Stress on the third syllable.
• Impossibility: im-pos-si-bil-i-ty. Similar suffix structure. Stress on the third syllable.

These words all exhibit a similar pattern of stress placement on the root syllable, followed by unstressed suffixes. The length of the word and the number of suffixes influence the overall rhythm, but the core stress pattern remains consistent.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Syllable Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel Division: Syllables are often divided around vowel sounds.
2. Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are easily separable.
3. Syllabic Consonant Rule: /l/ can form a syllable nucleus after an obstruent.

Special Considerations:

The length of the word and the multiple suffixes can lead to vowel reduction in unstressed syllables (e.g., /ə/ instead of a full vowel). The syllabic /l/ in "ble" is a common but noteworthy feature.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents a standard US English pronunciation, slight variations in vowel quality and tempo are possible depending on regional accents.