Hyphenation ofattendrissaient

Linguistic Analysis of "attendrissaient" (French)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "attendrissaient" is the third-person plural imperfect indicative of the verb "attendrir" (to soften, to sweeten). Its pronunciation involves a complex sequence of sounds, including nasal vowels and liaison possibilities.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets and respecting vowel sequences, is as follows (using only original letters):

at-ten-dris-sai-ent

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: None
• Root: tendr- (from Latin tener - tender, soft) - lexical root denoting softness.
• Suffixes:
  • -i- (thematic vowel, linking stem to endings) - common in French verb conjugation.
  • -ss- (part of the imperfect tense marker) - indicates past imperfective aspect.
  • -aient (imperfect indicative ending for 3rd person plural) - grammatical marker indicating tense, mood, and person.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a phrase or breath group. In this case, the final syllable "-ent" receives the primary stress.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/a.tɑ̃.dʁi.sɛ̃.t/

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "dr" presents a common onset cluster in French. The nasal vowels /ɑ̃/ and /ɛ̃/ require careful transcription. The imperfect tense endings can sometimes be elided in rapid speech, but the syllabification remains consistent.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Attendrissaient" is exclusively a verb form. Syllabification does not shift based on grammatical role as it is a conjugated verb.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: To be softening, to be sweetening, to be making tender.
• Part of Speech: Verb (Imperfect Indicative)
• Translation: Were softening, were sweetening.
• Synonyms: adoucir (to soften), sucrer (to sweeten)
• Antonyms: durcir (to harden), aigrir (to embitter)
• Examples:
  • "Les couleurs s'attendrissaient au coucher du soleil." (The colors were softening at sunset.)
  • "Ses traits s'attendrissaient lorsqu'elle parlait de ses enfants." (Her features softened when she spoke of her children.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• finissaient (were finishing): fin-is-sai-ent - Similar syllable structure, demonstrating the consistent application of the "-sai-ent" ending.
• choisissaient (were choosing): choi-sis-sai-ent - Again, the "-sai-ent" ending is consistent. The initial consonant cluster is different, but the core syllabification remains the same.
• grandissaient (were growing): gran-dis-sai-ent - Similar structure, showing the consistent application of the rules for vowel sequences and tense endings.

10. Division Rules:

• Rule 1: Vowel Break: Each vowel sound generally forms a syllable. This applies to "a-ten-dri-sai-ent".
• Rule 2: Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters are maximized as onsets (beginning of syllables) where possible. This applies to "dr" in "ten-dr".
• Rule 3: Consonant-Vowel Pattern: Syllables generally follow a consonant-vowel (CV) pattern.
• Rule 4: Liaison & Elision: While not directly impacting syllabification, liaison and elision can affect pronunciation.

11. Special Considerations:

The nasal vowels /ɑ̃/ and /ɛ̃/ require specific phonetic transcription. The imperfect tense endings can be subject to elision in rapid speech, but the underlying syllabification remains consistent.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in French pronunciation are minimal regarding syllabification. However, some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel sounds in unstressed syllables.