Hyphenation ofmultinationales

Linguistic Analysis of "multinationales" (French)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "multinationales" is a feminine plural noun in French, meaning "multinationals." Its pronunciation reflects standard French phonological rules, including liaison possibilities and vowel elision.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are complex, the word divides as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: multi- (Latin, meaning "many") - functions as a numerical prefix.
• Root: nation- (Latin natio, meaning "birth, race, people") - denotes the concept of a nation.
• Suffix: -al- (Latin, adjectival suffix) - forms an adjective from the root.
• Suffix: -es (French, feminine plural marker) - indicates feminine plural form.

4. Stress Identification:

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

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/myl.ti.na.sjɔ.nal.lə/

6. Edge Case Review:

French syllabification generally avoids leaving a single consonant as the onset of a syllable. However, this rule is sometimes overridden, especially with sonorants like /l/ or /r/.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Multinationales" is primarily a noun. As a noun, the stress pattern remains consistent. If used adjectivally (though less common), the stress would still fall on the final syllable.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Large companies that operate in several countries.
• Translation: Multinationals
• Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine plural)
• Synonyms: Sociétés multinationales, firmes multinationales
• Antonyms: Entreprises locales, petites entreprises
• Examples:
  • "Les multinationales ont un impact important sur l'économie mondiale." (Multinationals have a significant impact on the global economy.)
  • "Elle travaille pour une multinationale américaine." (She works for an American multinational.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• nationalité (nationality): na-tio-na-li-té. Similar structure, with the root "nation". Stress on the final syllable.
• international (international): in-ter-na-tjo-nal. Shares the "-national" component. Stress on the final syllable.
• organisation (organization): oʁ-ga-ni-za-sjɔ̃. Different root, but similar syllable structure with vowel-consonant alternation. Stress on the final syllable.

The consistent stress on the final syllable in these words is a typical feature of French phonology.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

• Vowel-Based Syllabification: Each vowel sound generally forms the nucleus of a syllable.
• Onset-Coda Structure: Syllables can have onsets (initial consonants) and codas (final consonants).
• Consonant Cluster Handling: Consonant clusters are allowed as onsets, provided they are pronounceable in French.
• Final Syllable Stress: Stress typically falls on the final syllable.

Special Considerations:

• The pronunciation of /y/ can be challenging for non-native speakers.
• The schwa /ə/ is a reduced vowel sound common in unstressed syllables.
• Liaison (linking the final consonant of one word to the initial vowel of the next) could occur in a phrase containing "multinationales," but doesn't affect the internal syllabification of the word itself.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the provided IPA transcription represents standard French, regional variations in vowel pronunciation might exist. However, these variations would not significantly alter the syllable division.