Hyphenation ofporte-aiguilles

Analysis of "porte-aiguilles"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "porte-aiguilles" is a compound noun in French, meaning "needle case". It consists of "porte-" (from the verb porter - to carry) and "aiguilles" (needles). The pronunciation involves liaison between the two parts, creating a smooth flow.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets and respecting vowel clusters, is as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: porte- (from porter - to carry). Latin origin (portare). Morphological function: indicates the function of carrying or holding.
• Root: aiguille (needle). Latin origin (agula). Morphological function: core meaning of the compound.
• Suffix: -s (plural marker). Latin origin. Morphological function: indicates plurality.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a phrase or a word group. In this case, the stress falls on the last syllable of the compound noun, "aiguilles".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/pɔʁt‿eɡɥij/

6. Edge Case Review:

The liaison between "porte" and "aiguilles" is a crucial aspect of the pronunciation. The final 'e' of "porte" is silent but creates a linking sound with the initial vowel of "aiguilles". This is a common phenomenon in French and affects the syllabification.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Porte-aiguilles" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress based on grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: A container for holding needles.
• Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine)
• Translation: Needle case
• Synonyms: étui à aiguilles
• Antonyms: None directly applicable.
• Examples:
  • "Elle a rangé ses aiguilles dans le porte-aiguilles." (She put her needles in the needle case.)
  • "J'ai acheté un nouveau porte-aiguilles en bois." (I bought a new wooden needle case.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• porte-monnaie: por-te-mon-naie. Similar structure (verb + noun). Stress on the final syllable.
• chauffe-eau: chauffe-eau. Similar structure (verb + noun). Stress on the final syllable.
• porte-clés: por-te-clés. Similar structure (verb + noun). Stress on the final syllable.

The consistent stress pattern on the final syllable in these compound nouns demonstrates a typical French phonological rule. The syllable division follows the same principles of maximizing onsets and respecting vowel clusters.

10. Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

• por-te: /pɔʁ.tə/ - Rule: Open syllable followed by a consonant. The 't' closes the first syllable.
• -ai-guil-les: /e.ɡɥij.lə/ - Rule: Vowel clusters are generally kept together within a syllable. The 'guil' forms a complex onset. The final 'les' forms a closed syllable. Liaison occurs between 'te' and 'ai'.
• Exceptions/Special Cases: The liaison between "porte" and "aiguilles" is a key consideration. Without it, the syllabification would be different.

11. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in French pronunciation are minimal regarding this word. The liaison is generally consistent, though some speakers might pronounce it less distinctly.