Hyphenation ofcontre-attaques

Analysis of "contre-attaques"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "contre-attaques" is a French noun meaning "counterattacks." It's a compound word formed by a prefix ("contre-") and a noun ("attaques"). Pronunciation involves nasal vowels and liaison possibilities.

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 meaning "against"). Function: Indicates opposition or reversal.
• Root: attaque (Old French, from Italian attacco, ultimately from Latin attaccare meaning "to attack"). Function: Core meaning of attack.
• Suffix: -s (French). Function: Marks pluralization.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress generally falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. In this case, the stress falls on "-ques".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/kɔ̃tʁ‿a.tak/

6. Edge Case Review:

The liaison between "contre" and "attaques" is common and affects the pronunciation, creating a smoother flow. The 'e' in 'contre' is typically silent unless followed by a vowel sound, which is the case here due to the liaison.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Contre-attaques" is primarily a noun. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Counterattacks; retaliatory attacks.
• Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine plural)
• Translation: Counterattacks
• Synonyms: ripostes, représailles
• Antonyms: attaques, offensives
• Examples:
  • "Les contre-attaques ont été efficaces." (The counterattacks were effective.)
  • "L'équipe a lancé plusieurs contre-attaques." (The team launched several counterattacks.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "contre-attaque" (singular form): /kɔ̃tʁ‿a.tak/ - Syllabification: con-tre-at-ta-que. The pluralization adds a syllable and changes the stress slightly.
• "débarras" (clearance): /de.ba.ʁa/ - Syllabification: dé-bar-ras. Similar vowel-consonant structure, but no prefix.
• "remarques" (remarks): /ʁə.maʁk/ - Syllabification: re-mar-ques. Similar suffix, but different prefix and vowel sounds.
• "sous-vêtements" (underwear): /su.ve.tə.mɑ̃/ - Syllabification: sous-vê-te-ments. Similar prefix structure, but more complex vowel structure.

10. Syllable List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

• con /kɔ̃/ - Open syllable, ending in a nasal vowel. Rule: French syllables generally end in a vowel sound.
• tre /tʁə/ - Open syllable, vowel followed by a liquid consonant. Rule: Vowel-liquid combinations form a syllable. Liaison with the next word.
• a /a/ - Open syllable, single vowel. Rule: Single vowels form their own syllable.
• ta /ta/ - Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant. Rule: Vowel-consonant combinations form a syllable.
• ques /kə/ - Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant. Rule: Vowel-consonant combinations form a syllable.

11. Division Rules Applied:

• Vowel-Based Syllabification: French syllables are primarily defined by vowel sounds.
• Avoidance of Complex Onsets: Consonant clusters are generally not broken unless they are easily pronounceable as separate syllables.
• Liaison Consideration: Liaison influences pronunciation and can affect perceived syllable boundaries.

12. Special Considerations:

The liaison between "contre" and "attaques" is a key feature of French pronunciation and must be considered when analyzing the word. The nasal vowel /ɔ̃/ in "contre" is also a characteristic feature of French phonology.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the standard pronunciation is /kɔ̃tʁ‿a.tak/, some regional variations might exist in the realization of the /ʁ/ sound (uvular fricative). However, these variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.