Hyphenation ofcontre-attaquai
Syllable Division:
con-tre-at-ta-que
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/kɔ̃tʁ.a.tak.e/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
00100
Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('taq'). The final '-ai' is a weak ending and receives minimal stress.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, nasal vowel.
Open syllable, consonant cluster permissible.
Open syllable, vowel-initial.
Open syllable, vowel-initial.
Open syllable, vowel-initial, weak ending.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix: contre-
From Latin 'contra', meaning 'against'. Indicates opposition.
Root: attaq-
From Old French 'atake', ultimately from Latin 'attacare', meaning 'to attack'. Core meaning of attack.
Suffix: -ai
First-person singular past historic ending.
I counterattacked
Translation: Je contre-attaquai
Examples:
"Le chevalier, pris au dépourvu, contre-attaquai avec courage."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
Shares the same prefix and root, similar syllable structure.
Shares the root, simpler structure but similar vowel-consonant patterns.
Contains the root 'attaque' with an added pronoun, demonstrating syllable addition.
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Open Syllable Rule
Syllables ending in a vowel sound are considered open syllables.
Vowel-Initial Syllable Rule
Each vowel sound typically begins a new syllable.
Consonant Cluster Rule
Permissible consonant clusters within a syllable are maintained unless they are easily separable.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The hyphenated structure of the word.
The potential for liaison in speech, though not reflected in the written form.
The weak ending '-ai' which influences stress.
Summary:
The word 'contre-attaquai' is syllabified as con-tre-at-ta-que, with stress on the penultimate syllable. It's a verb form composed of the prefix 'contre-', the root 'attaq-', and the suffix '-ai'. Syllabification follows French rules prioritizing vowel sounds and permissible consonant clusters.
Detailed Analysis:
Analysis of "contre-attaquai"
1. Examination & Pronunciation:
The word "contre-attaquai" is a conjugated form of the verb "contre-attaquer" (to counterattack). It's the first-person singular past historic (a literary past tense) form. Pronunciation involves nasal vowels, liaison possibilities, and a final mute 'e'.
2. Syllable Division:
Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are pronounceable as separate syllables, the division is as follows (using only the original letters):
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- Prefix: contre- (from Old French contre, ultimately from Latin contra meaning "against"). Function: Indicates opposition or reversal.
- Root: attaq- (from Old French atake, ultimately from Old French attacker, from Latin attacare meaning "to attack"). Function: Core meaning of attack.
- Suffix: -ai (from Old French -ei, representing the first-person singular past historic ending). Function: Verb conjugation marker.
4. Stress Identification:
In French, stress generally falls on the last syllable of a phrase or breath group. However, in this case, the final '-ai' is a weak ending. The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable, taq.
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/kɔ̃tʁ.a.tak.e/
6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:
- con-tre: /kɔ̃tʁ/ - Rule: Open syllable (ends in a vowel sound). The 'tr' cluster is permissible within a syllable in French. Exception: The nasal vowel /ɔ̃/ influences the preceding consonant.
- at-ta-que: /a.tak/ - Rule: Vowel-initial syllable. Each vowel forms a separate syllable. The 'tt' cluster is permissible.
- -ai: /e/ - Rule: Weak ending, often reduced to a schwa-like sound. Considered a syllable due to the vowel sound.
7. Edge Case Review:
The hyphenated structure of "contre-attaquai" presents a slight complexity. The liaison between "contre" and "attaquai" is possible in speech, but the written form maintains the separation.
8. Grammatical Role:
The word is exclusively a verb form. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of its function within a sentence.
9. Definition & Semantics:
- Word: contre-attaquai
- Part of Speech: Verb (past historic, first-person singular)
- Definitions:
- "I counterattacked"
- Translation: Je contre-attaquai
- Synonyms: répliquai, ripostai
- Antonyms: me défendis, cédai
- Examples: "Le chevalier, pris au dépourvu, contre-attaquai avec courage." (The knight, caught off guard, counterattacked with courage.)
10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:
Pronunciation is relatively standard. Regional variations are minimal and wouldn't significantly alter syllabification.
11. Phonological Comparison:
- contre-attaque: /kɔ̃tʁ.a.tak/ - Syllabification: con-tre / a-ta-que. Similar structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
- attaque: /a.tak/ - Syllabification: a-ta-que. Simpler structure, but the same vowel-consonant pattern.
- attaque-t-il: /a.tak.til/ - Syllabification: a-ta-que / t-il. The addition of the pronoun 't-il' creates an additional syllable, but the core "attaque" remains syllabified the same way.
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What is hyphenation
Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.
This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.
With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.