Hyphenation ofdommages-intérêts
Syllable Division:
do-ma-ges-in-té-rêts
Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)
/dɔ.maʒ.‿ɛ̃.te.ʁɛ/
Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)
000111
Stress falls on the final syllable '-êts' of 'intérêts' as is typical in French.
Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound
Open syllable, initial syllable.
Open syllable, follows initial syllable.
Closed syllable, contains a schwa.
Nasal vowel, open syllable. Liaison occurs here.
Closed syllable, stressed syllable.
Closed syllable, final syllable, receives primary stress.
Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)
Prefix:
Root: domage/intérêt
Latin origins (damnum/interesse)
Suffix:
Compensation awarded by a court to a party who has suffered loss or injury.
Translation: Damages (legal term)
Examples:
"Les dommages-intérêts ont été fixés à 10 000 euros."
"Il a réclamé des dommages-intérêts pour préjudice moral."
Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features
The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end
Vowel-Based Division
Syllables are generally divided around vowel sounds.
Avoid Breaking Consonant Clusters
Consonant clusters are kept together unless they are complex.
Liaison Consideration
Liaison influences the perceived syllabification, but the written form remains unchanged.
Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure
The hyphenated structure is a key exception.
Liaison between 'dommages' and 'intérêts' is crucial for pronunciation.
The word is a fixed expression and doesn't undergo morphological changes.
Summary:
The compound noun 'dommages-intérêts' is syllabified based on vowel sounds, avoiding consonant cluster breaks. Stress falls on the final syllable. The hyphenated structure and liaison are key considerations. It's a fixed legal term with Latin origins.
Detailed Analysis:
Linguistic Analysis of "dommages-intérêts" (French)
1. Examination & Pronunciation:
"Dommages-intérêts" is a complex French noun referring to damages or compensation. Its pronunciation involves liaison and elision, typical of French. The hyphenated structure presents a unique challenge for syllabification.
2. Syllable Division:
Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are complex, the division is as follows (using only original letters):
3. Morphemic Analysis:
- dommages: From Old French domage, ultimately from Latin damnum ("damage, loss"). Noun, plural form.
- intérêts: From Old French interest, from Latin interesse ("to be of interest, concern"). Noun, plural form.
The compound functions as a single legal/economic term.
4. Stress Identification:
French generally has stress on the final syllable of a phrase or word group. In this case, the stress falls on "-êts" of "intérêts".
5. Phonetic Transcription:
/dɔ.maʒ.‿ɛ̃.te.ʁɛ/
6. Edge Case Review:
The hyphenated structure is the primary edge case. French generally avoids hyphenating words unless they are compounds or for specific stylistic reasons. The liaison between "dommages" and "intérêts" (the 's' sound linking to the 'i' in 'intérêts') is crucial.
7. Grammatical Role:
"Dommages-intérêts" functions exclusively as a noun, specifically a legal term. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its role within a sentence.
8. Definition & Semantics:
- Definition: Compensation awarded by a court to a party who has suffered loss or injury.
- Translation: Damages (legal term)
- Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine, plural)
- Synonyms: Indemnités, réparation
- Antonyms: None directly applicable.
- Examples:
- "Les dommages-intérêts ont été fixés à 10 000 euros." (The damages were set at 10,000 euros.)
- "Il a réclamé des dommages-intérêts pour préjudice moral." (He claimed damages for emotional distress.)
9. Phonological Comparison:
- avocat (lawyer): a-vo-cat /a.vɔ.ka/ - Similar open syllable structure. Stress on the final syllable.
- procès (trial): pro-cès /pʁɔ.sɛ/ - Similar final syllable stress.
- contrat (contract): con-trat /kɔ̃.tʁa/ - Similar open syllable structure and final syllable stress.
The key difference with "dommages-intérêts" is the compound nature and the liaison, which are less prominent in these simpler words.
Syllable Analysis Details:
- do: /do/ - Open syllable, initial syllable.
- ma: /ma/ - Open syllable, follows initial syllable.
- ges: /ʒə/ - Closed syllable, contains a schwa.
- in: /ɛ̃/ - Nasal vowel, open syllable. Liaison occurs here.
- té: /te/ - Closed syllable, stressed syllable.
- rêts: /ʁɛ/ - Closed syllable, final syllable, receives primary stress.
Division Rules Applied:
- Vowel-Based Division: Syllables are generally divided around vowel sounds.
- Avoid Breaking Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are kept together unless they are complex.
- Liaison Consideration: Liaison influences the perceived syllabification, but the written form remains unchanged.
Special Considerations:
- The hyphenated structure is a key exception.
- Liaison between "dommages" and "intérêts" is crucial for pronunciation.
- The word is a fixed expression and doesn't undergo morphological changes.
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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.