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Hyphenation ofincommensurable

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

in-com-men-su-ra-ble

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

/ɛ̃.kɔ.mɑ̃.sʏ.ʁa.bl(ə)/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000011

Primary stress falls on the final syllable '-ble'. A secondary stress may be present on the penultimate syllable 'ra'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

in/ɛ̃/

Open syllable with a nasal vowel.

com/kɔ/

Open syllable.

men/mɑ̃/

Open syllable with a nasal vowel.

su/sʏ/

Open syllable.

ra/ʁa/

Open syllable.

ble/bl(ə)/

Closed syllable, often with a schwa.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

in-(prefix)
+
commensur-(root)
+
-able(suffix)

Prefix: in-

Latin origin, negative prefix.

Root: commensur-

Latin origin, meaning 'to measure together'.

Suffix: -able

Latin origin, adjectival suffix indicating capability.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Not able to be measured or compared; immeasurable.

Translation: Immeasurable, incomparable

Examples:

"La différence entre leurs revenus est incommensurable."

"Les conséquences de cette décision sont incommensurables."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

comparablecom-pa-ra-ble

Shares the '-ble' suffix and similar syllable structure.

mesurableme-su-ra-ble

Shares the '-ble' suffix and similar syllable structure.

incomparablein-com-pa-ra-ble

Shares the 'in-' prefix and '-ble' suffix, exhibiting similar syllabification patterns.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Nucleus Rule

Each syllable contains a vowel sound as its nucleus.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they are easily separable.

Nasal Vowel Rule

Nasal vowels typically form a syllable on their own.

Special Considerations

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

The final 'e' is often silent and its inclusion in the syllable is context-dependent.

Nasal vowels require specific consideration in syllabification.

Liaison and elision can affect pronunciation and potentially syllable boundaries in connected speech.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'incommensurable' is divided into six syllables based on vowel sounds and consonant clusters. It consists of a Latin-derived prefix 'in-', root 'commensur-', and suffix '-able'. Stress falls on the final syllable. Syllabification follows standard French rules, with considerations for nasal vowels and the silent final 'e'.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "incommensurable" in French

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "incommensurable" is a relatively complex word in French, borrowed from Latin. Its pronunciation adheres to French phonological rules, including liaison and elision possibilities depending on the following word. The 'e' at the end is generally silent.

2. Syllable Division:

Applying French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and consonant clusters, we arrive at the following division.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: in- (Latin in-) - meaning "not" or "un-". Negative prefix.
  • Root: commensur- (Latin commensurare) - meaning "to measure together". Derived from com- (together) and mensurare (to measure).
  • Suffix: -able (Latin -abilis) - adjectival suffix indicating capability or possibility ("able to be").

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically 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, "-ble".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɛ̃.kɔ.mɑ̃.sʏ.ʁa.bl(ə)/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with rule explanations:

  • in-: /ɛ̃/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. The 'n' closes the syllable, but the vowel sound is the nucleus. Exception: Nasal vowel.
  • com-: /kɔ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound forms the syllable nucleus.
  • men-: /mɑ̃/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound forms the syllable nucleus. Nasal vowel.
  • su-: /sʏ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound forms the syllable nucleus.
  • ra-: /ʁa/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound forms the syllable nucleus.
  • ble: /bl(ə)/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster 'bl' followed by a schwa (often elided). The 'e' is often silent.

7. Edge Case Review:

The nasal vowels /ɛ̃/ and /ɑ̃/ require special consideration. French syllabification generally treats nasal vowels as forming a syllable on their own. The final 'e' is often silent, and its inclusion in the syllable depends on the context (liaison, elision).

8. Grammatical Role:

"Incommensurable" functions primarily as an adjective in French. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Not able to be measured or compared; immeasurable.
  • Translation: Immeasurable, incomparable.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: incommensurable, incalculable, disproportionné
  • Antonyms: comparable, mesurable, proportionné
  • Examples:
    • "La différence entre leurs revenus est incommensurable." (The difference between their incomes is immeasurable.)
    • "Les conséquences de cette décision sont incommensurables." (The consequences of this decision are immeasurable.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in pronunciation are minimal for this word. The final 'e' might be slightly more pronounced in some regions, but it generally remains silent.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • comparable: /kɔ̃.pa.ʁa.bl(ə)/ - Syllables: com-pa-ra-ble. Similar structure, with the '-ble' suffix.
  • mesurable: /me.zy.ʁa.bl(ə)/ - Syllables: me-su-ra-ble. Similar structure, with the '-ble' suffix.
  • incomparable: /ɛ̃.kɔ̃.pa.ʁa.bl(ə)/ - Syllables: in-com-pa-ra-ble. Similar structure, with the 'in-' prefix and '-ble' suffix.

The syllable division is consistent across these words, demonstrating the regular application of French syllabification rules. The presence of nasal vowels and consonant clusters influences the syllable structure, but the core principles remain the same.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

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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.