Hyphenation ofreines-des-prés

Linguistic Analysis of "reines-des-prés"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "reines-des-prés" (meaning meadowsweet) is a compound noun in French. Its pronunciation involves liaison between "des" and "prés" in standard French. The 's' in 'des' is pronounced, creating a smooth connection.

2. Syllable Division:

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

re-ines-des-prés

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• reine (root): From Old French reine, ultimately from Latin regina ("queen"). Function: Noun, denoting a type of plant resembling a queen in beauty.
• des (prefix/determiner): From Old French des, from Latin de + eis (genitive plural article). Function: Definite article, indicating possession or relation.
• prés (root): From Old French prés, from Latin pratum ("meadow"). Function: Noun, indicating the location or habitat of the plant.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. In this case, the stress falls on "prés".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʁɛn.des.pʁe/

6. Edge Case Review:

The liaison between "des" and "prés" is a common feature of French phonology and affects the pronunciation but not the syllabification based on orthography.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Reines-des-prés" functions solely as a noun. As a compound noun, the stress remains on the final element ("prés").

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: A perennial herbaceous plant (Filipendula ulmaria) with creamy-white flowers, traditionally used for medicinal purposes.
• Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine)
• Translation: Meadowsweet
• Synonyms: Reine des bois (Queen of the woods)
• Antonyms: None directly applicable.
• Examples:
  • "La tisane de reines-des-prés est réputée pour ses propriétés anti-inflammatoires." (Meadowsweet tea is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties.)
  • "On trouve des reines-des-prés dans les prairies humides." (Meadowsweet is found in damp meadows.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• cerises (cherries): cer-i-ses. Similar syllable structure, with open syllables.
• pommes-de-terre (potatoes): pom-mes-de-ter-re. More complex, but shares the compound noun structure and liaison potential.
• fleurs-des-prés (meadow flowers): fleur-des-pré. Similar structure to "reines-des-prés", demonstrating consistent syllabification of compound nouns.

10. Division Rules:

• Rule 1: Vowel Clusters: Vowels within a single syllable are grouped together (e.g., "re-ines").
• Rule 2: Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are broken up to maximize onsets (e.g., "des-prés").
• Rule 3: Final Syllable: The final syllable often consists of a single vowel sound (e.g., "prés").

11. Special Considerations:

The hyphenated structure of the compound noun is crucial for accurate syllabification. The liaison between "des" and "prés" is a phonetic phenomenon that doesn't alter the orthographic syllable division.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While standard French pronunciation dictates the liaison, some regional variations might minimize or omit it. This would affect the phonetic realization but not the underlying syllabification.