Hyphenation ofintercommunales

Analysis of "intercommunales"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "intercommunales" is a French adjective meaning "intercommunal." It's formed through a series of prefixes and suffixes attached to a root. Pronunciation involves liaison possibilities depending on the following word.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and consonant clusters, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: inter- (Latin, meaning "between" or "among") - functions to indicate reciprocity or interaction.
• Root: commun- (Latin, communis meaning "common") - the base denoting shared characteristics.
• Suffix: -ales (French, derived from Latin -alis forming adjectives) - indicates relating to or belonging to.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. In this case, the stress falls on "-les".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɛ̃.tɛʁ.kɔ.my.nal/

6. Edge Case Review:

French syllabification can be complex due to liaison and elision. However, for the purpose of this analysis, we are focusing on the inherent syllable structure of the word in isolation.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Intercommunales" is primarily an adjective. As an adjective, the stress pattern remains consistent. It can also function as a noun (plural form), but the syllabification and stress remain unchanged.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Relating to or shared by multiple communes (French administrative divisions).
• Translation: Intercommunal, inter-municipal.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective (masculine plural) / Noun (feminine plural)
• Synonyms: intermunicipales, communes
• Antonyms: individuelles, personnelles
• Examples: "les services intercommunales" (the intercommunal services), "les décisions intercommunales" (the intercommunal decisions).

9. Phonological Comparison:

• nationales: na-tio-nales /na.sjɔ.nal/ - Similar vowel structure and final "-ales" suffix. Stress on the last syllable.
• communales: co-mu-nales /kɔ.my.nal/ - Shares the root "commun-" and the suffix "-ales". Stress on the last syllable.
• internationales: in-ter-na-tio-nales /ɛ̃.tɛʁ.na.sjɔ.nal/ - Shares the "inter-" prefix and "-ales" suffix. Stress on the last syllable.

The consistent stress on the final syllable and the shared suffixes demonstrate a regular pattern in French adjective formation.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel-Initial Syllable: Syllables generally begin with a vowel sound.
2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are typically broken after the vowel sound.
3. Final Syllable Stress: French generally stresses the final syllable.

Special Considerations:

• The "inter-" prefix can sometimes lead to elision in connected speech.
• Liaison is possible between "les" and a following vowel sound.
• The nasal vowel /ɛ̃/ in "in" is a characteristic feature of French phonology.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the standard pronunciation is /ɛ̃.tɛʁ.kɔ.my.nal/, slight regional variations in vowel quality or consonant articulation may occur. However, these variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.