Hyphenation ofcontremarquâtes

Analysis of "contremarquâtes"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "contremarquâtes" is a conjugated form of the verb "contremarquer" (to countermark). It's a relatively complex word with a prefix, root, and a verb ending. Pronunciation involves careful attention to the liaison possibilities and the 'â' sound.

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- (Latin contra - against, opposite). Function: Opposition.
• Root: marqu- (Latin marca - mark, brand). Function: Core meaning of marking.
• Suffix: -âtes (Verb ending, 2nd person plural imperfect indicative). Function: Verb conjugation.

4. Stress Identification:

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

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/kɔ̃.tʁə.maʁ.ky.t/

6. Edge Case Review:

The 'â' sound can be tricky. It's a mid-back rounded vowel. The 'tr' cluster is a common and permissible initial consonant cluster in French.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Contremarquâtes" is exclusively a verb form (2nd person plural imperfect indicative of "contremarquer"). Syllabification remains consistent regardless of the grammatical context as it's a single word form.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: To countermark; to mark in opposition to something else.
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Translation: To countermark
• Synonyms: marquer en opposition, signaler différemment
• Antonyms: marquer, signaler
• Examples: "Ils contremarquâtes les documents pour les distinguer des originaux." (They countermarked the documents to distinguish them from the originals.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• comparaisons:
  • contremarquez (2nd person singular present indicative of "contremarquer"): con-tre-mar-quez. Similar structure, stress on the final syllable.
  • remarquâtes (imperfect indicative of "remarquer"): re-mar-quâ-tes. Similar ending, stress on the final syllable.
  • contremandâtes (imperfect indicative of "contremander"): con-tre-man-dâ-tes. Similar prefix and ending, stress on the final syllable.

The syllable division is consistent across these words, demonstrating the application of the same rules. The presence of the prefix contre- and the verb ending -âtes consistently lead to similar syllable structures.

10. Syllable Analysis & Rules:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable:

• con /kɔ̃/: Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. Exception: Nasal vowel.
• trə /tʁə/: Open syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by schwa. Exception: 'tr' is a permissible initial cluster.
• mar /maʁ/: Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
• ky /ky/: Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
• t /t/: Syllable consisting of a single consonant. Rule: Consonant following a vowel.

11. Special Considerations:

The 'tr' cluster is a common initial consonant cluster in French and doesn't require separation. The nasal vowel in "con" is a characteristic feature of French phonology. The 'â' sound is a mid-back rounded vowel, and its pronunciation is consistent.

12. Division Rules Applied:

• Rule 1: Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are generally divided after vowels.
• Rule 2: Consonant Cluster Handling: Consonant clusters are kept together unless they can be naturally separated in pronunciation.
• Rule 3: Schwa Syllables: Schwa sounds (ə) often form their own syllables.
• Rule 4: Single Consonant Rule: A single consonant following a vowel typically forms its own syllable.