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Hyphenation ofcontre-révolutions

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

con-tre-ré-vo-lu-tions

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/kɔ̃tʁə.ʁe.vɔ.ly.sjɔ̃/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

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Stress falls on the last syllable ('tions') of the word, as is typical in French. The syllable 'lu' also receives secondary stress due to the root word 'révolution'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

con/kɔ̃/

Open syllable, nasal vowel.

tre/tʁə/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster onset.

ré/ʁe/

Open syllable.

vo/vɔ/

Open syllable.

lu/ly/

Closed syllable.

tions/sjɔ̃/

Closed syllable, nasal vowel, final consonant cluster.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

contre(prefix)
+
révolution(root)
+
s(suffix)

Prefix: contre

From Latin 'contra', meaning 'against'. Oppositional function.

Root: révolution

From Latin 'revolutio', meaning 'a turning around'. Core meaning of revolution.

Suffix: s

French plural marker.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A movement or series of movements aimed at reversing the effects of a previous revolution.

Translation: Counter-revolutions

Examples:

"Les contre-révolutions ont souvent suivi les grandes révolutions."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

réactionsré-ac-tions

Shares the '-tions' suffix and similar vowel structure.

révolutionré-vo-lu-tion

Contains the root word 'révolution' and exhibits similar syllable structure.

transformationstrans-for-ma-tions

Shares the '-tions' suffix and a similar vowel-consonant pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Based Syllabification

Syllables are built around vowel sounds, with each vowel (or vowel cluster) forming the nucleus.

Consonant Cluster Treatment

Consonant clusters are generally kept together as onsets or codas unless easily pronounceable as separate syllables.

Avoidance of Isolated Consonants

French avoids leaving single consonants as syllable nuclei.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

The prefix 'contre' can elide to 'cont'' before a vowel.

Liaison and elision are surface phonetic phenomena that don't affect the core syllabic structure.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'contre-révolutions' is divided into six syllables based on vowel sounds and consonant clusters. It consists of the prefix 'contre', the root 'révolution', and the plural suffix '-s'. Stress falls on the final syllable. Syllabification follows standard French rules prioritizing vowel nuclei and avoiding isolated consonants.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "contre-révolutions"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "contre-révolutions" is a complex noun in French, meaning "counter-revolutions." Its pronunciation involves liaison and elision possibilities, but we will analyze the base form.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are pronounced as separate syllables, the division is as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: contre- (from Latin contra meaning "against"). Function: Opposition.
  • Root: révolution (from Latin revolutio meaning "a turning around"). Function: Core meaning of revolution.
  • Suffix: -s (French plural marker). Function: Indicates multiple counter-revolutions.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress generally falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. However, in compound words like this, the stress tends to fall on the last stressed syllable of the root word. In this case, it's on the final syllable of révolutions.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/kɔ̃tʁə.ʁe.vɔ.ly.sjɔ̃/

6. Edge Case Review:

The "contre" prefix can sometimes elide to "cont'" before a vowel, but this doesn't affect the underlying syllabification. The liaison between "révolutions" and a following vowel is possible in connected speech.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word is primarily a noun. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of grammatical context.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A movement or series of movements aimed at reversing the effects of a previous revolution.
  • Translation: Counter-revolutions
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine plural)
  • Synonyms: réactions, retournements
  • Antonyms: révolutions, changements
  • Examples: "Les contre-révolutions ont souvent suivi les grandes révolutions." (Counter-revolutions often followed the great revolutions.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • réactions: /ʁe.ak.sjɔ̃/ - Syllable division: ré-ac-tions. Similar vowel structure, but different initial consonant cluster.
  • révolution: /ʁe.vɔ.ly.sjɔ̃/ - Syllable division: ré-vo-lu-tion. Shares the root "révolution" and similar syllable structure.
  • transformations: /tʁɑ̃s.fɔʁ.ma.sjɔ̃/ - Syllable division: trans-for-ma-tions. Similar ending "-tions" and vowel-consonant patterns.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
con /kɔ̃/ Nasal vowel, open syllable Vowel-based division. Syllables are built around vowel sounds.
tre /tʁə/ Closed syllable Consonant cluster "tr" is treated as a single onset. Liaison possible with following vowel.
ré /ʁe/ Open syllable Vowel-based division.
vo /vɔ/ Open syllable Vowel-based division.
lu /ly/ Closed syllable
tions /sjɔ̃/ Closed syllable, nasal vowel Final consonant cluster "tions" forms a single coda.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Based 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 generally kept together as onsets or codas unless they are easily pronounceable as separate syllables.
  3. Avoidance of Isolated Consonants: French avoids leaving single consonants as syllable nuclei.

Special Considerations:

  • The prefix "contre" can elide to "cont'" before a vowel, but this doesn't change the underlying syllabification.
  • Liaison and elision are surface phonetic phenomena that don't affect the core syllabic structure.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Pronunciation can vary slightly depending on regional accents, but the syllabification remains consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/6/2025

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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.