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Hyphenation ofrétrogradation

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ré-tro-gra-da-tion

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

/ʁe.tʁo.ɡʁa.da.sjɔ̃/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

Stress falls on the final syllable '-tion', as is typical in French. The numbers represent the stress level for each syllable, with 1 indicating primary stress and 0 indicating unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

/ʁe/

Open syllable, initial syllable, contains the vowel /e/.

tro/tʁo/

Open syllable, contains the vowel /o/ and the consonant cluster /tʁ/.

gra/ɡʁa/

Open syllable, contains the vowel /a/ and the consonant cluster /ɡʁ/.

da/da/

Open syllable, contains the vowel /a/.

tion/sjɔ̃/

Closed syllable, final syllable, contains the nasal vowel /ɔ̃/ and is stressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

rétro-(prefix)
+
grad-(root)
+
-ation(suffix)

Prefix: rétro-

Latin origin, meaning 'backward, behind'. Derivational prefix.

Root: grad-

Latin origin (gradus), meaning 'step, degree'. Core meaning carrier.

Suffix: -ation

Latin origin, nominalizing suffix, transforms verb to noun.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A demotion in rank or grade; a regression to a lower state.

Translation: Retrogradation, downgrading, demotion.

Examples:

"Sa rétrogradation a été une surprise pour tout le monde."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

dégradationdé-gra-da-tion

Shares the '-tion' suffix and similar syllable structure, demonstrating consistent stress placement.

transformationtrans-for-ma-tion

Shares the '-tion' suffix and similar syllable structure, demonstrating consistent stress placement.

organisationor-ga-ni-sa-tion

Shares the '-tion' suffix and similar syllable structure, demonstrating consistent stress placement.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Based Division

Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. Each vowel sound generally constitutes a syllable.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are maintained within a syllable unless they can be naturally separated by a vowel sound. The 'tr' and 'gr' clusters are examples.

Final Syllable Rule

The final syllable often contains the stress and is formed around the final vowel sound. In this case, '-tion' is the final syllable and receives the stress.

Special Considerations

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

The 'tr' consonant cluster is common in French and doesn't pose a syllabification challenge.

The nasal vowel /ɔ̃/ in the final syllable is a standard feature of French phonology.

The word's syllabification remains consistent regardless of its grammatical function as a noun.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The French word 'rétrogradation' is divided into five syllables: ré-tro-gra-da-tion. Stress falls on the final syllable '-tion'. The word is composed of the prefix 'rétro-', the root 'grad-', and the suffix '-ation'. Syllabification follows vowel-based division and consonant cluster rules, consistent with French phonological norms.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "rétrogradation" (French)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "rétrogradation" is a noun in French, meaning "retrogradation" or "downgrading." It's a relatively complex word, built from several morphemes. Pronunciation involves careful attention to liaison and elision possibilities, but the core structure remains consistent.

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 (detailed in the JSON output).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • rétro-: Prefix of Latin origin (retro- meaning "backward, behind"). Functions as a derivational prefix indicating reversal or return.
  • grad-: Root of Latin origin (gradus meaning "step, degree"). Functions as the core meaning carrier related to levels or ranks.
  • -ation: Suffix of Latin origin. Functions as a nominalizing suffix, transforming the verb "grader" (to rank, grade) into a noun.

4. Stress Identification:

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

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ʁe.tʁo.ɡʁa.da.sjɔ̃/

6. Edge Case Review:

The "tr" cluster is a common initial consonant cluster in French and doesn't typically cause syllabification issues. The nasal vowel /ɔ̃/ in the final syllable is a standard feature of French phonology.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Rétrogradation" is primarily a noun. While it's derived from a verb root, its function as a noun doesn't alter the syllabification or stress pattern.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A demotion in rank or grade; a regression to a lower state.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine)
  • Translation: Retrogradation, downgrading, demotion.
  • Synonyms: Dégradation, relégation, abaissement.
  • Antonyms: Promotion, élévation, avancement.
  • Example Usage: "Sa rétrogradation a été une surprise pour tout le monde." (His demotion was a surprise to everyone.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • dégradation: dé-gra-da-tion (similar syllable structure, stress on the final syllable)
  • transformation: trans-for-ma-tion (similar suffix "-tion", stress on the final syllable)
  • organisation: or-ga-ni-sa-tion (similar suffix "-tion", stress on the final syllable)

These words demonstrate the consistent application of French syllabification rules, particularly the tendency to place stress on the final syllable and the consistent handling of the "-tion" suffix.

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the standard pronunciation is /ʁe.tʁo.ɡʁa.da.sjɔ̃/, some regional variations might exhibit slight differences in vowel quality or the realization of the /ʁ/ sound. However, these variations generally do not affect the core syllabification.

11. Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel-Based Division: Syllables are generally formed around vowel sounds.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are maintained within a syllable unless they can be naturally separated by a vowel sound.
  • Final Syllable Rule: The final syllable often contains the stress and is formed around the final vowel sound.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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