Hyphenation ofcompréhensibles

Linguistic Analysis of "compréhensibles" (French)

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "compréhensibles" is a French adjective meaning "comprehensible." Its pronunciation involves nasal vowels, liaison possibilities, and a final schwa that may be elided in rapid speech.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are complex, the word divides as follows: com-pré-hen-si-bles.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: com- (Latin con-) - meaning "with, together, thoroughly."
• Root: préhend- (Latin prehendere) - meaning "to grasp, seize, understand."
• Suffix: -sibles (French, derived from Latin -bilis) - forming an adjective meaning "capable of being," "able to be." The "-s" is the plural marker.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. However, in polysyllabic words, the stress is less prominent than in languages like English. In "compréhensibles," the stress falls on the final syllable, "-bles."

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/kɔ̃.pʁe.ɑ̃.si.bl(ə)/

6. Edge Case Review:

The nasal vowels /ɔ̃/ and /ɑ̃/ require careful consideration. The final schwa /ə/ is often dropped in connected speech. The "pr" cluster is permissible at the beginning of a syllable in French.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Compréhensibles" is primarily an adjective. As an adjective, the stress pattern remains consistent. It can also function as a plural noun, but the syllabification and stress remain unchanged.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Capable of being understood; intelligible.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective (plural)
• Translation: Comprehensible
• Synonyms: intelligible, clair, compréhensible
• Antonyms: incompréhensible, obscur
• Examples:
  • "Les instructions étaient compréhensibles." (The instructions were comprehensible.)
  • "Des idées compréhensibles pour tous." (Comprehensible ideas for everyone.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Possible: /pɔ.si.bl(ə)/ - Similar syllable structure, final schwa.
• Responsable: /ʁɛ.sɔ̃.sa.bl(ə)/ - Nasal vowel, similar ending.
• Imprévisible: /ɛ̃.pʁe.vi.zi.bl(ə)/ - Complex initial consonant cluster, similar ending.

The syllable structure in "compréhensibles" is typical for French adjectives of Latin origin, featuring vowel-initial syllables and a final schwa. The presence of nasal vowels is also common.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

• com-: /kɔ̃/ - Open syllable, containing a nasal vowel. Rule: Vowel-initial syllable. Exception: Nasal vowel requires specific articulation.
• pré-: /pʁe/ - Open syllable, containing a vowel. Rule: Vowel-initial syllable.
• hen-: /ɑ̃/ - Open syllable, containing a nasal vowel. Rule: Vowel-initial syllable. Exception: Nasal vowel requires specific articulation.
• si-: /si/ - Open syllable, containing a vowel. Rule: Vowel-initial syllable.
• bles-: /bl(ə)/ - Closed syllable (potentially open if the schwa is elided). Rule: Consonant cluster followed by a vowel. Exception: Final schwa is often dropped.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Initial Syllable: Each syllable begins with a vowel sound.
2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are maintained within a syllable unless they are exceptionally complex.
3. Schwa Elision: The final schwa is often elided in rapid speech, affecting syllable openness.

Special Considerations:

• The nasal vowels /ɔ̃/ and /ɑ̃/ require specific articulation and are a characteristic feature of French phonology.
• The final schwa /ə/ is often dropped in connected speech, which can affect the perceived syllable structure.
• Liaison possibilities exist, but do not affect the core syllabification.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in pronunciation may affect the realization of the schwa, with some speakers consistently pronouncing it and others consistently eliding it. This does not fundamentally alter the syllable division, but it can affect the perceived rhythm of the word.