Hyphenation ofwhat-do-you-call-it

Linguistic Analysis of "what-do-you-call-it" (US English)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "what-do-you-call-it" is a multi-word expression functioning as a single unit, often used as a placeholder name when the actual name is unknown or forgotten. Its pronunciation reflects the individual pronunciations of its constituent words, linked by rapid speech and reduced forms.

2. Syllable Division:

Following US English syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

what-do-you-call-it

3. Morphemic Analysis:

This phrase is not a single morphologically complex word, but a sequence of words.

• what: Interrogative pronoun (Old English origin). Function: Introduces a question.
• do: Auxiliary verb (Old English origin). Function: Forms questions, emphasizes statements.
• you: Personal pronoun (Old English origin). Function: Indicates the person being addressed.
• call: Verb (Old English origin). Function: To name or identify.
• it: Pronoun (Old English origin). Function: Refers to a previously mentioned or understood object.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on "call". The stress pattern is relatively even across the other words, but "call" receives the most prominence.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/wʌt duː juː kɔl ɪt/

6. Edge Case Review:

The phrase's colloquial nature allows for some flexibility in pronunciation and linking. The "do" and "you" are often contracted to /duːjə/ in rapid speech. The "what" can be reduced to /wət/.

7. Grammatical Role:

The entire phrase functions as a noun phrase, acting as a substitute for a noun. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of its function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: A phrase used to refer to something when the speaker does not know or cannot remember its name.
• Grammatical Category: Noun Phrase
• Synonyms: Thingamajig, whatsit, doohickey
• Antonyms: (None directly applicable, as it's a placeholder)
• Examples:
  • "Pass me that… what-do-you-call-it… the thing for opening bottles."
  • "I saw a bird, a little… what-do-you-call-it… with a red head."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "what-ever-it-is": what-ev-er-it-is. Similar syllable structure, stress on "ev".
• "how-do-you-do": how-do-you-do. Similar structure with auxiliary verb + pronoun + verb. Stress on "do".
• "who-is-it": who-is-it. Similar structure with pronoun + verb + pronoun. Stress on "who".

The differences in syllable division are primarily due to the varying lengths and complexities of the words within each phrase. The stress patterns are determined by the lexical stress of the individual words.

Syllable Analysis Details:

• what: /wʌt/ - Open syllable. No division rules applied as it's a single syllable word.
• do: /duː/ - Open syllable. No division rules applied as it's a single syllable word.
• you: /juː/ - Open syllable. No division rules applied as it's a single syllable word.
• call: /kɔl/ - Open syllable. No division rules applied as it's a single syllable word.
• it: /ɪt/ - Open syllable. No division rules applied as it's a single syllable word.

Division Rules Applied:

• Vowel-Consonant-e Rule: Not applicable.
• Consonant Digraph Rule: Not applicable.
• Open Syllable Rule: Each syllable ends in a vowel sound, making them open syllables.
• Every syllable must have a vowel sound: This is the fundamental rule applied.

Special Considerations:

• The phrase is a colloquialism, and pronunciation can vary.
• The linking of words in rapid speech can blur syllable boundaries.
• The phrase is not a single word, so traditional morphological analysis is less relevant.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional accents may affect vowel sounds (e.g., /ɑː/ instead of /ɔː/ in "call"). The reduction of "what" to /wət/ is common in many US dialects.