Hyphenation ofréimperméabilisassent

Linguistic Analysis of "réimperméabilisassent" (French)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "réimperméabilisassent" is a complex verb form in French, specifically the third-person plural imperfect subjunctive of the verb "réimperméabiliser" (to re-waterproof). Its pronunciation is challenging due to the numerous consonant clusters and vowel elisions that can occur in French.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are pronounceable as separate syllables, the division is as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: ré- (Latin, meaning "again, anew"). Function: Reduplication.
• Root: perméabil- (Latin permeabilis, meaning "permeable"). Function: Core meaning relating to permeability.
• Suffix: -iser (Latin -izare, verb-forming suffix). Function: Verb formation.
• Suffix: -assent (From the verb avoir (to have) in the imperfect subjunctive, third-person plural). Function: Verb conjugation.

4. Stress Identification:

French generally has stress on the final syllable of a phrase or breath group. However, in polysyllabic words, the stress is often less pronounced and more evenly distributed. In this case, the primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: -bi-lis-*.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʁe.im.pɛʁ.me.a.bi.li.sa.sɑ̃/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

• ré-: /ʁe/ - Open syllable. Rule: Every vowel sound forms a syllable. No exceptions.
• im-: /im/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel forms a syllable. No exceptions.
• per-: /pɛʁ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Every vowel sound forms a syllable. The 'r' is a rhotic consonant and is part of the syllable.
• mé-: /me/ - Open syllable. Rule: Every vowel sound forms a syllable. No exceptions.
• a-: /a/ - Open syllable. Rule: Every vowel sound forms a syllable. No exceptions.
• bi-: /bi/ - Open syllable. Rule: Every vowel sound forms a syllable. No exceptions.
• li-: /li/ - Open syllable. Rule: Every vowel sound forms a syllable. No exceptions.
• sa-: /sa/ - Open syllable. Rule: Every vowel sound forms a syllable. No exceptions.
• sas-: /sɑ̃/ - Nasal syllable. Rule: Nasal vowels form a syllable. The 's' is part of the syllable.

7. Edge Case Review:

The consonant clusters "-rm-" and "-lis-" are common in French and do not typically cause syllable breaks. The nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ in the final syllable is a characteristic feature of French phonology.

8. Grammatical Role:

The word is primarily a verb form. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of its grammatical function within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Word: réimperméabilisassent
• Part of Speech: Verb (Imperfect Subjunctive, 3rd person plural)
• Definitions:
  • "They would re-waterproof."
  • "They were to re-waterproof."
• Translation: They would re-waterproof.
• Synonyms: None readily available due to the specific verb form.
• Antonyms: déperméabilisaient (they were waterproofing)
• Examples: "Si les toits n'étaient pas en bon état, ils réimperméabilisassent les combles." (If the roofs were not in good condition, they would re-waterproof the attics.)

10. Regional Variations:

Pronunciation of the 'r' sound can vary regionally (uvular vs. alveolar). This doesn't affect syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

• imperméable (waterproof): im-pé-rme-a-ble. Similar syllable structure, demonstrating the consistent application of vowel-based syllabification.
• perméabilité (permeability): per-mé-a-bi-li-té. Similar syllable structure, highlighting the consistent handling of consonant clusters.
• réimperméabiliser (to re-waterproof): ré-im-per-mé-a-bi-li-ser. Demonstrates the consistent application of the ré- prefix and the iser suffix.