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Hyphenation ofprotège-cahier

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

pro-tè-ge-ca-hier

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

/pʁɔ.tɛʒ.ka.je/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

The primary stress falls on the final syllable, 'hier', which is typical for French nouns.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

pro/pʁɔ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

/tɛ/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ge/ʒə/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

ca/ka/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

hier/je/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant, stressed syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

(prefix)
+
protè-ca(root)
+
hier(suffix)

Prefix:

Root: protè-ca

Combination of 'protéger' (to protect) and 'cahier' (notebook)

Suffix: hier

Noun ending

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A cover for a notebook.

Translation: Notebook cover

Examples:

"J'ai acheté un nouveau protège-cahier."

"Le protège-cahier est en plastique."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

livre-cahierli-vre-ca-hier

Compound noun structure, similar syllable patterns.

porte-cahierpoʁt-ka-je

Compound noun structure, similar syllable patterns.

protège-livrepʁɔ.tɛʒ.livʁ

Similar structure with a different noun, consistent stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are generally divided after vowels.

Consonant-Vowel Division

Syllables are divided before vowels.

Hyphenated Compound Division

The hyphen dictates a syllable break, separating the components.

Special Considerations

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

The hyphenated nature of the compound noun requires special attention to maintain the distinction between the verb and noun components.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'protège-cahier' is a compound noun divided into five syllables: pro-tè-ge-ca-hier. Stress falls on the final syllable. The division follows standard French syllabification rules, considering the hyphenated structure and the morphemic components.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "protège-cahier" (French)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "protège-cahier" is a compound noun in French, meaning "notebook cover". It consists of the verb "protéger" (to protect) conjugated in its imperative form "protège" and the noun "cahier" (notebook). The pronunciation reflects this composition.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of preserving original orthography, is: pro-tè-ge-ca-hier

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: None
  • Root 1: protè- (from protéger - to protect). Origin: Latin protegere (to cover, shield). Morphological function: Verb stem.
  • Root 2: ca- (from cahier - notebook). Origin: Latin quadernus (four-sheet notebook). Morphological function: Noun stem.
  • Suffix 1: -ge (from protéger). Origin: Latin. Morphological function: Verb conjugation marker (imperative).
  • Suffix 2: -hier (from cahier). Origin: Latin. Morphological function: Noun ending.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the final syllable: "hier". French generally stresses the last syllable of a word or phrase.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/pʁɔ.tɛʒ.ka.je/

6. Edge Case Review:

The hyphenated nature of the compound presents a slight edge case. While French generally syllabifies based on vowel sounds, the hyphen forces a division between the verb and noun components.

7. Grammatical Role:

"protège-cahier" functions solely as a noun. The verb "protège" is in its imperative form, but it's integrated into the compound noun and doesn't independently change the syllabification.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A cover for a notebook.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine)
  • Translation: Notebook cover
  • Synonyms: couverture de cahier
  • Antonyms: None directly applicable.
  • Examples:
    • "J'ai acheté un nouveau protège-cahier." (I bought a new notebook cover.)
    • "Le protège-cahier est en plastique." (The notebook cover is made of plastic.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • livre-cahier: li-vre-ca-hier. Similar syllable structure, with a compound noun. Stress remains on the final syllable.
  • porte-cahier: poʁt-ka-je. Similar syllable structure, with a compound noun. Stress remains on the final syllable.
  • protège-livre: pʁɔ.tɛʒ.livʁ. Similar structure, but with "livre" (book). Stress remains on the final syllable.

The consistency in stress placement on the final syllable in these compounds demonstrates a common pattern in French compound nouns.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
pro /pʁɔ/ Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant. Vowel-consonant division. None
/tɛ/ Closed syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant. Consonant-vowel division after the hyphen. The 'è' is a closed mid vowel.
ge /ʒə/ Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant. Vowel-consonant division. The 'g' is pronounced as /ʒ/ before 'e'.
ca /ka/ Open syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant. Vowel-consonant division. None
hier /je/ Closed syllable, vowel sound followed by consonant. Consonant-vowel division. The 'i' and 'e' form a diphthong. Stress is on this syllable.

Division Rules Applied:

  1. Vowel-Consonant Division: Syllables are generally divided after vowels.
  2. Consonant-Vowel Division: Syllables are divided before vowels.
  3. Hyphenated Compounds: The hyphen dictates a syllable break, separating the components.

Special Considerations:

The compound nature of the word requires consideration of the individual morphemes. The hyphen is crucial for maintaining the distinction between the verb and noun components.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the standard pronunciation is /pʁɔ.tɛʒ.ka.je/, some regional variations might exist in the pronunciation of the vowels, but these would not significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/22/2025

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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.