Hyphenation ofwhat-d'ye-call-'em
Syllable Division:
what-d'ye-call-'em
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/wʌt dja kɔl ʔɛm/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
0010
Primary stress falls on the syllable 'call' (third syllable).
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.
Closed syllable, consonant-vowel-consonant.
Closed syllable, consonant-vowel-consonant.
Closed syllable, glottal stop-vowel-consonant.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix:
Root: what, call
Interrogative pronoun and verb indicating naming.
Suffix: em
Contraction of 'them', pronoun.
Used to refer to something whose name one does not know or has forgotten.
Examples:
"Pass me that what-d'ye-call-'em over there."
"I need the what-d'ye-call-'em to open this jar."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Open Syllable
Vowel followed by consonant(s).
Closed Syllable
Consonant followed by vowel and consonant.
Elision
Omission of sounds in contractions.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
Colloquial contraction with elision.
Regional variations in vowel pronunciation ('what').
Summary:
The phrase 'what-d'ye-call-'em' is syllabified based on the underlying words within the contraction, applying standard English syllable division rules (open/closed syllables, elision). Primary stress falls on 'call'. It functions as a determiner/noun phrase referring to an unnamed object.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "what-d'ye-call-'em" (English - US)
This analysis focuses on the colloquial phrase "what-d'ye-call-'em," a contraction frequently used to refer to something whose name is unknown or forgotten.
1. IPA Transcription:
/wʌt dja kɔl ʔɛm/ or /wɑt dja kɔl ʔɛm/ (variation in vowel quality of 'what' is common)
2. Morphemic Breakdown:
- what: Root. Origin: Old English hwæt (interrogative pronoun). Morphological function: Interrogative pronoun initiating the phrase.
- d'ye: Contraction of "do you". Origin: Old English dū (do) + ġē (you). Morphological function: Auxiliary verb + pronoun, forming a question.
- call: Root. Origin: Old Norse kalla. Morphological function: Verb, indicating naming or identifying.
- 'em: Contraction of "them". Origin: Old English þām. Morphological function: Pronoun, referring to the unnamed object.
3. Stressed Syllable(s):
The primary stress falls on 'call'.
4. Syllables List with IPA and Rule Explanations:
- what: /wʌt/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). Exception: The 'wh' digraph is treated as a single consonant sound in this context.
- d'ye: /dja/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel and consonant. The apostrophe indicates elision of 'o' in 'do'.
- call: /kɔl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel and consonant.
- 'em: /ʔɛm/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Glottal stop (represented by ʔ) followed by vowel and consonant. The apostrophe indicates elision of 'th' in 'them'.
5. Syllable Division Rule Explanations:
- Vowel-Consonant-Consonant (VCC): Applies to 'call' (/kɔl/). The vowel is followed by two consonants, creating a closed syllable.
- Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC): Applies to 'd'ye' (/dja/) and 'em' (/ʔɛm/). A consonant is followed by a vowel and then another consonant.
- Open Syllable (CV): Applies to 'what' (/wʌt/). The vowel is the final sound of the syllable.
- Elision: The apostrophes in 'd'ye' and 'em' indicate the omission of sounds ('o' and 'th' respectively) during rapid speech, a common feature of contractions.
6. Potential Exceptions/Special Cases:
- The pronunciation of 'what' can vary between /wʌt/ and /wɑt/ depending on regional accent. This doesn't affect syllable division.
- The glottal stop in 'em' is a phonetic realization and doesn't change the orthographic syllable division.
7. Exceptions for the Word as a Whole:
The entire phrase is an exception to standard word formation rules, being a colloquial contraction. Syllabification relies on recognizing the underlying words within the contraction.
8. Grammatical Role & Syllabification Shifts:
This phrase functions as a determiner or a noun phrase. Syllabification doesn't shift based on grammatical role, as it's already a fixed phrase.
9. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: Used to refer to something whose name one does not know or has forgotten.
- Grammatical Category: Determiner/Noun Phrase
- Synonyms: thingamajig, whatsit, doohickey
- Examples: "Pass me that what-d'ye-call-'em over there." "I need the what-d'ye-call-'em to open this jar."
10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
As mentioned, the vowel in 'what' can vary. Regional accents might also influence the degree of elision in the contractions. These variations don't fundamentally alter the syllable division.
11. Phonological Comparison:
- "button": but-ton (CVC-CVC). Similar CVC structure in 'd'ye' and 'call'.
- "water": wa-ter (CV-CVC). Similar open syllable structure in 'what'.
- "them": them (CVC). Similar CVC structure in 'em'.
The consistency lies in the application of CVC and CV syllable division rules. The glottal stop in 'em' is a unique feature due to the contraction and elision.
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