Hyphenation ofcontre-attaqueront

Analysis of "contre-attaqueront"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "contre-attaqueront" is a conjugated form of the verb "attaquer" (to attack) in the future tense. It's a complex word due to the prefix "contre-", the verb stem, and the future tense ending. Pronunciation involves liaison possibilities and vowel elision depending on context.

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 original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: contre- (Old French, from Latin contra - against). Function: Reversal, opposition.
• Root: attaqu- (from Old French atake, ultimately from Frankish takkō - to attack). Function: Core meaning of the verb.
• Suffix: -eront (future tense ending). Function: Indicates future tense, 3rd person plural.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress generally falls on the last syllable of a phrase or breath group. In this case, the final syllable is stressed.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/kɔ̃tʁə.ta.kə.ʁɔ̃/

6. Edge Case Review:

The "contre-" prefix can sometimes lead to elision or liaison with the following vowel. The "r" sounds can be challenging for non-native speakers.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Contre-attaqueront" is exclusively a verb form. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of its function within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: To counterattack.
• Grammatical Category: Verb (future tense, 3rd person plural).
• Translation: They will counterattack.
• Synonyms: riposteront, réagiront, se défendront.
• Antonyms: attaqueront, céderont.
• Examples: "Ils contre-attaqueront dès qu'ils auront rassemblé leurs forces." (They will counterattack as soon as they have gathered their forces.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• attaqueront: a-ta-que-ront. Similar structure, demonstrating the consistent application of syllabification rules for the verb stem and future tense ending.
• contre-argumenteront: kɔ̃tʁə.aʁ.gy.mɑ̃.tə.ʁɔ̃. Shows how the "contre-" prefix integrates into the syllabic structure.
• attaqueraient: a-ta-que-raient. Demonstrates the syllabification of conditional endings, similar to the future tense.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Centric Syllabification: French syllables are primarily built around vowel sounds. Each vowel (or vowel cluster) generally forms the nucleus of a syllable.
2. Consonant Cluster Treatment: Consonant clusters are analyzed to determine if they can be broken into separate syllables. Clusters that are easily pronounceable as a unit are kept together in the onset or coda.
3. Avoidance of Isolated Consonants: French generally avoids leaving a single consonant as a syllable on its own.

Special Considerations:

• The prefix "contre-" can sometimes undergo elision or liaison, affecting pronunciation but not the underlying syllabification.
• The "r" sound is a uvular fricative in standard French, which can be challenging for learners.
• The nasal vowels /ɔ̃/ and /ɑ̃/ require careful pronunciation.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in pronunciation might affect the realization of the "r" sound (e.g., alveolar trill in some southern dialects), but the syllabification remains consistent.