Hyphenation ofcontre-révolutionnaires

Analysis of "contre-révolutionnaires"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "contre-révolutionnaires" is a complex noun in French, meaning "counter-revolutionaries." Its pronunciation involves several consonant clusters and nasal vowels, typical of French. The liaison possibilities between words in connected speech can also affect pronunciation.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters where possible, the word is divided as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: contre- (Latin contra - "against"). Function: Opposition.
• Root: révolution (Latin revolutio - "a turning around"). Function: Core meaning of revolution.
• Suffix: -naires (Latin -arius). Function: Forms a noun denoting people associated with the root.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress generally falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. However, in longer words, there's a tendency for a secondary stress on the penultimate syllable. In this case, the primary stress is on the final syllable, "-naires," with a weaker stress on "ré-".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/kɔ̃tʁə.ʁe.vɔ.ly.sjo.nɛʁ/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

• con-: /kɔ̃/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. Exception: Nasal vowel.
• tre-: /tʁə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds.
• ré-: /ʁe/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds.
• vo-: /vɔ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds.
• lu-: /ly/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds.
• tion-: /sjõ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are generally maintained unless they are exceptionally difficult to pronounce. Exception: Nasal vowel.
• nai-: /nɛʁ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds.
• res-: /ʁɛ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds.

7. Edge Case Review:

The "contre" prefix can sometimes be pronounced /kɔ̃tʁ/ in rapid speech, blurring the syllable boundary. However, for a detailed analysis, maintaining the separation is more accurate. The consonant cluster /sjõ/ is a common feature of French and doesn't present a significant exception.

8. Grammatical Role:

The word is primarily a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function (e.g., as part of a noun phrase).

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: People who oppose a revolution or advocate for the restoration of a previous political system.
• Translation: Counter-revolutionaries
• Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine plural)
• Synonyms: Antirévolutionnaires, royalistes (depending on context)
• Antonyms: Révolutionnaires
• Examples: "Les contre-révolutionnaires ont organisé des complots." (The counter-revolutionaries organized plots.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in pronunciation are minimal for this word. However, the degree of liaison (linking the final consonant of one word to the initial vowel of the next) can vary.

11. Phonological Comparison:

• révolutionnaire: /ʁe.vɔ.ly.sjo.nɛʁ/ - Syllable division: ré-vo-lu-tion-naire. Similar structure, demonstrating the consistent application of vowel-centered syllabification.
• démocratie: /de.mɔ.kʁa.si/ - Syllable division: dé-mo-cra-tie. Similar open syllable structure.
• constitutionnel: /kɔ̃.sti.ty.sjɔ.nɛl/ - Syllable division: con-sti-tu-tion-nel. Demonstrates the handling of consonant clusters and the final "-el" suffix.