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Hyphenation oflaissés-pour-compte

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

lai-ssés-pour-com-pte

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

/lɛ.se.puʁ.kɔ̃t/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

Stress falls on the final syllable '-compte' as is typical in French.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

lai/lɛ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ssés/se/

Consonant cluster followed by vowel.

pour/puʁ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster.

com/kɔ̃/

Nasal vowel followed by consonant.

pte/pt/

Consonant cluster followed by schwa.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

(prefix)
+
compte(root)
+
laissés-pour(suffix)

Prefix:

Root: compte

From Latin *computare* (to calculate, reckon).

Suffix: laissés-pour

Past participle of 'laisser' and preposition 'pour' forming a compound modifier.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Abandoned, left behind, disregarded, out of luck.

Translation: Left-for-account

Examples:

"Les enfants laissés-pour-compte par la société."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

dépassésdé-pas-sés

Similar structure with a past participle and vowel-consonant syllable patterns.

intéressésin-té-res-sés

Similar vowel-consonant patterns and the presence of a nasal vowel.

passés-partoutpas-sés-par-tout

Demonstrates the compound structure and vowel-consonant syllable division.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are typically divided before vowels.

Consonant Cluster Division

Consonant clusters are divided to avoid creating complex onsets or codas, prioritizing pronounceability.

Nasal Vowel Boundary

Nasal vowels often mark syllable boundaries.

Special Considerations

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

Potential for liaison between 'pour' and 'compte'. The 't' in 'compte' is often silent but affects syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'laissés-pour-compte' is divided into five syllables based on vowel sounds and consonant clusters. Stress falls on the final syllable. It's a compound adjective derived from 'laisser' and 'compte', meaning 'left behind' or 'disregarded'.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "laissés-pour-compte"

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "laissés-pour-compte" presents challenges due to its length, compound structure, and the presence of liaisons and elisions common in French. The pronunciation will vary slightly depending on the speed and formality of speech.

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 the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • laissés: Past participle of "laisser" (to leave).
    • Origin: Vulgar Latin lassare (to loosen, let go).
    • Function: Participial adjective modifying "pour-compte".
  • pour: Preposition meaning "for".
    • Origin: Latin pro (for, in front of).
    • Function: Connects "laissés" and "compte".
  • compte: Noun meaning "account", "count", or "consideration".
    • Origin: Latin computare (to calculate, reckon).
    • Function: Noun, part of the compound expression.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a phrase or a rhythmic group. In this case, the primary stress falls on "-compte".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/lɛ.se.puʁ.kɔ̃t/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Syllable IPA Transcription Rule Explanation Potential Exceptions
lai /lɛ/ Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. None
ssés /se/ Consonant cluster 'ss' followed by vowel. Syllable division occurs before the vowel. 'ss' can sometimes be considered a single phoneme, but here it's divided for clarity.
pour /puʁ/ Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant cluster. Liaison with the following vowel is possible in connected speech.
com /kɔ̃/ Nasal vowel followed by consonant. Nasal vowels often create syllable boundaries.
pte /pt/ Consonant cluster 'pt' followed by schwa. Syllable division occurs before the vowel. The 't' is often silent in final position, but it affects syllabification.

7. Edge Case Review:

The compound nature of the word and the potential for liaison (linking the final consonant of "pour" to the initial vowel of "compte") are key considerations. The 's' in 'laissés' is a potential point of ambiguity, but the syllable division reflects the pronunciation.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Laissés-pour-compte" functions as an adjective. The syllabification remains consistent regardless of its grammatical role.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Abandoned, left behind, disregarded, out of luck.
  • Translation: Left-for-account, literally.
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective
  • Synonyms: abandonné, négligé, délaissé
  • Antonyms: choyé, privilégié
  • Examples: "Les enfants laissés-pour-compte par la société." (The children left behind by society.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in pronunciation are minimal for this word. However, the degree of liaison between "pour" and "compte" can vary. Some speakers might pronounce it more distinctly, while others might blend the sounds.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • dépassés: /de.pa.se/ - Syllable division: dé-pas-sés. Similar structure with a past participle and vowel-consonant syllable patterns.
  • intéressés: /ɛ̃.te.ʁe.se/ - Syllable division: in-té-res-sés. Similar vowel-consonant patterns and the presence of a nasal vowel.
  • passés-partout: /pa.se.paʁ.tu/ - Syllable division: pas-sés-par-tout. Demonstrates the compound structure and vowel-consonant syllable division.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/5/2025

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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.