Hyphenation ofirrépréhensibles

Linguistic Analysis of "irrépréhensibles" (French)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "irrépréhensibles" is a French adjective meaning "irreproachable" or "blameless." It's a relatively complex word due to its prefixation and suffixation. Pronunciation involves nasal vowels and liaison possibilities.

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 original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: ir- (Latin origin, meaning "not"). Negative prefix.
• Root: préhens- (Latin prehendere "to grasp, seize"). Indicates the act of taking or understanding.
• Suffix: -ible (Latin -bilis). Adjectival suffix denoting capability or possibility.
• Suffix: -s (French). Plural marker.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. However, in polysyllabic words, it's often a subtle stress, more a matter of prominence than a strong accent. In this case, the stress falls on the final syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/i.ʁe.pʁe.ɑ̃.sibl(ə)l/ (Note: the final (ə) is a schwa and is often elided in speech)

6. Edge Case Review:

The sequence "préhens" presents a potential challenge. French generally avoids ending a syllable with a consonant cluster, but "préhens" is accepted as a valid syllable due to its historical origin and common usage.

7. Grammatical Role:

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

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Not open to reproach; blameless; impeccable.
• Part of Speech: Adjective (masculine plural)
• Translation: Irreproachable, blameless, impeccable.
• Synonyms: impeccable, irréprochable, parfait
• Antonyms: répréhensible, blâmable
• Examples: "Ses actions étaient irrépréhensibles." (His actions were irreproachable.) "Des motifs irrépréhensibles." (Irreproachable motives.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Responsables: re-spon-sa-bles. Similar syllable structure, with a final "-s" plural marker. Stress on the last syllable.
• Compréhensibles: com-pré-hen-si-bles. Shares the "préhens" root. Stress on the last syllable.
• Invraisemblables: in-vrai-sem-blables. Similar prefix structure and final "-s" plural. Stress on the last syllable.

These comparisons demonstrate the consistent application of French syllabification rules, particularly the tendency to stress the final syllable and maintain vowel-centered syllables.

10. Division Rules:

• Rule 1: Vowel-Centered Syllables: Each syllable generally contains a vowel sound.
• Rule 2: Avoid Breaking Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are maintained as single syllables unless they are easily pronounceable as separate syllables.
• Rule 3: Final Syllable Stress: Stress typically falls on the final syllable.
• Rule 4: Prefix/Suffix Separation: Prefixes and suffixes are generally separated into distinct syllables.

11. Special Considerations:

The "préhens" cluster is a notable case. While French generally avoids ending syllables with consonant clusters, this is an accepted exception due to the word's etymology. The elision of the final schwa is also a common phonetic variation.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in pronunciation are minimal for this word. The elision of the final schwa is more common in rapid speech.