Hyphenation ofassouplissement

Analysis of "assouplissement"

1. Pronunciation: The word "assouplissement" is pronounced with a relatively even stress distribution, though the final syllable receives a slight emphasis. The 'ss' represents a single sound /s/ in French.

2. Syllable Division: Applying French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and consonant clusters, we arrive at the following division.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: as- (Latin ad- meaning "to, towards"). Function: Intensifier/Directional.
• Root: soupl- (from souple meaning "flexible"). Function: Core meaning relating to flexibility.
• Suffix: -issement (Latin -mentum). Function: Nominalization, creating a noun from a verb or adjective.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable, "-plis-". This is typical for French words ending in a silent 'e'.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /a.su.pli.sɑ̃.mɑ̃/

6. Edge Case Review: The consonant cluster "pl" is a common occurrence in French and doesn't present a significant syllabification challenge. The nasal vowels /ɑ̃/ and /ɔ̃/ are also standard and don't affect the syllable division process.

7. Grammatical Role: "Assouplissement" is primarily a noun. The syllabification remains consistent regardless of its grammatical function within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The act of making something more flexible, lenient, or easier.
• Translation: Relaxation, easing, flexibility, softening.
• Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine)
• Synonyms: détente, allègement, flexibilité
• Antonyms: rigidification, durcissement
• Examples:
  • "L'assouplissement des règles." (The relaxation of the rules.)
  • "Un assouplissement de la politique économique." (An easing of economic policy.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Difficulté: di-fi-cul-té (4 syllables) - Similar vowel structure, but the consonant clusters differ.
• Accomplissement: a-com-plis-se-ment (5 syllables) - Shares the "-issement" suffix, demonstrating consistent syllabification of this morpheme.
• Développement: dé-ve-lop-pe-ment (5 syllables) - Demonstrates the typical French pattern of dividing before a vowel sound.

10. Syllable Breakdown with Rules & Exceptions:

• a-: /a/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables typically begin with a consonant or vowel. No exceptions.
• ssou-: /su/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are often maintained within a syllable if pronounceable. Exception: The 'ss' is pronounced as a single /s/.
• pli-: /pli/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No exceptions.
• sɑ̃-: /sɑ̃/ - Nasal syllable. Rule: Nasal vowels form their own syllable. No exceptions.
• mɑ̃-: /mɑ̃/ - Nasal syllable. Rule: Nasal vowels form their own syllable. No exceptions.

11. Special Considerations: The pronunciation of the 'ss' as a single /s/ is a key consideration. The nasal vowels require careful transcription and are crucial for accurate syllabification.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: While the standard pronunciation is as described, some regional variations might exhibit slight differences in vowel quality or stress, but these generally don't alter the core syllabification.