Hyphenation ofquatre-vingt-seize

Analysis of "quatre-vingt-seize" (French)

1. Pronunciation: The word is pronounced approximately as /katʁ.vɛ̃.sɛz/. It represents the number 96.

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of breaking before consonant clusters and respecting vowel sounds, is as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• quatre-: From Old French quatre, ultimately from Latin quattuor ("four"). Functions as a numeral prefix.
• vingt-: From Old French vint, ultimately from Latin viginti ("twenty"). Functions as a numeral prefix.
• seize: From Old French seize, ultimately from Latin sedecim ("sixteen"). Functions as a numeral.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the final syllable, seize.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /katʁ.vɛ̃.sɛz/

6. Edge Case Review: French syllabification is complex, particularly with nasal vowels and consonant clusters. The "vingt" portion can sometimes be pronounced with a slight elision, but the syllable division remains consistent in written form.

7. Grammatical Role: This word functions solely as a cardinal numeral (adjective). Syllabification and stress do not shift based on grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Ninety-six.
• Grammatical Category: Cardinal numeral (adjective).
• Translation: Ninety-six (English)
• Synonyms: N/A (it's a specific number)
• Antonyms: N/A (it's a specific number)
• Examples: "J'ai quatre-vingt-seize ans." (I am ninety-six years old.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• trente-deux: /tʁɑ̃t.də/ - Syllable division: tren-te-deux. Similar structure with numeral prefixes and a final numeral. Stress on the final syllable.
• cinquante-trois: /sɛ̃.kɑ̃t.tʁwa/ - Syllable division: cin-quan-te-trois. Similar structure, stress on the final syllable.
• soixante-dix: /swa.sɑ̃t.di/ - Syllable division: soi-xan-te-dix. Similar structure, stress on the final syllable.

These comparisons demonstrate a consistent pattern in French cardinal numbers involving numeral prefixes and a final numeral, with stress consistently falling on the last syllable.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

• quatre: /katʁ/ - Open syllable, ending in a vowel sound. Syllable division rule: Vowel sound initiates a new syllable.
• vingt: /vɛ̃/ - Closed syllable, ending in a nasal vowel. Syllable division rule: Consonant cluster before a vowel initiates a new syllable.
• sei: /sɛ/ - Open syllable, ending in a vowel sound. Syllable division rule: Vowel sound initiates a new syllable.
• ze: /z/ - Closed syllable, ending in a consonant sound. Syllable division rule: Consonant sound initiates a new syllable.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel Rule: Every vowel sound generally begins a new syllable.
2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are often broken before a vowel sound.
3. Final Consonant Rule: A single final consonant typically closes a syllable.

Special Considerations:

• The nasal vowel /ɛ̃/ in "vingt" can be challenging to syllabify, but the written form dictates the division.
• The elision of the final 's' in "seize" when followed by a vowel is a phonetic phenomenon and doesn't affect the written syllable division.
• The hyphenated structure reflects the historical composition of the number.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the standard pronunciation is /katʁ.vɛ̃.sɛz/, some regional variations might exist in the nasal vowel pronunciation. However, these variations do not alter the syllable division.