Hyphenation ofprotège-tibias

Analysis of "protège-tibias"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "protège-tibias" is a compound noun in French, meaning "shin guards." It consists of the verb "protéger" (to protect) conjugated in the third-person singular present indicative, and the noun "tibias" (shinbones). The pronunciation reflects this composition.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: None
• Root: protè- (from Latin protegere - to protect). Morphological function: Verb root.
• Suffix: -ge- (part of the verb conjugation, indicating the third-person singular present indicative). Morphological function: Verbal inflection.
• Root: ti- (from Latin tibia - shinbone). Morphological function: Noun root.
• Suffix: -bias (plural marker for tibia). Morphological function: Noun pluralization.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress generally falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. In this case, the stress falls on "-bias".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/pʁɔ.tɛʒ.ti.bja/

6. Edge Case Review:

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

7. Grammatical Role:

The word functions as a noun. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of grammatical role, as it's a compound noun.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Shin guards; protective gear worn over the shins.
• Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine plural)
• Translation: Shin guards
• Synonyms: None common. Could be described as "protections pour les tibias".
• Antonyms: None directly applicable.
• Examples:
  • "Il porte des protège-tibias au football." (He wears shin guards in football.)
  • "Les protège-tibias sont essentiels pour éviter les blessures." (Shin guards are essential to avoid injuries.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "protège-genoux" (knee pads): pro-tè-ge-ge-nou. Similar structure, verb + noun. Stress on the final syllable.
• "protège-dents" (mouthguard): pro-tè-ge-dɑ̃. Verb + noun. Stress on the final syllable.
• "protège-oreilles" (earmuffs): pro-tè-ge-ɔ-ʁɛj. Verb + noun. Stress on the final syllable.

The consistent pattern of verb + noun compounds results in similar syllabification and stress patterns. The vowel sounds within the noun portion vary, but the core structure remains the same.

10. Division Rules:

• Rule 1: Vowel-Based Syllabification: French generally divides syllables around vowel sounds.
• Rule 2: Consonant Cluster Handling: Consonant clusters are often broken up, but in this case, the hyphen dictates the division.
• Rule 3: Hyphenated Compounds: Hyphens create clear syllable boundaries.

11. Special Considerations:

The hyphen is the primary special consideration. Without it, syllabification might be different (e.g., pro-tège-ti-bias). The pronunciation of the 'e' in 'protège' is a schwa /ə/ or /e/ depending on the speaker.