Hyphenation ofsignificatives

Linguistic Analysis of "significatives" (French)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "significatives" is a French adjective meaning "significant" (plural, feminine). Its pronunciation follows standard French phonological rules, with liaison possibilities depending on the following word.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid stranded consonants, the word divides as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: signi- (Latin signum - meaning "sign, mark"). Function: contributes to the core meaning of 'meaning' or 'significance'.
• Root: fic- (Latin facere - meaning "to make, to do"). Function: forms part of the root relating to making something meaningful.
• Suffix: -atives (Latin -ativus). Function: adjectival suffix, indicating quality or characteristic.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. Therefore, the stress falls on "-tives".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/si.ɲi.fi.ka.tiv/

6. Edge Case Review:

French syllabification generally avoids leaving a single consonant between vowels. This is observed in the division of "signi-fi-ca-tives".

7. Grammatical Role:

"Significatives" is primarily an adjective. As an adjective, the stress pattern remains consistent.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Having significance; important; meaningful.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective (feminine plural)
• Translation: Significant (feminine plural)
• Synonyms: importantes, marquantes, notables
• Antonyms: insignifiantes, mineures, négligeables
• Examples:
  • "Les données significatives" - "The significant data."
  • "Des contributions significatives" - "Significant contributions."

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Actives: a-c-tives /ak.tiv/ - Similar suffix structure. Syllabification follows the same pattern.
• Narratives: nar-ra-tives /na.ʁa.tiv/ - Similar suffix structure. Syllabification follows the same pattern.
• Creatives: cré-a-tives /kʁe.a.tiv/ - Similar suffix structure. Syllabification follows the same pattern.

These words demonstrate the consistent application of French syllabification rules regarding vowel-based division and avoiding stranded consonants.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Open Syllable Principle: Syllables generally end in vowels.
2. Consonant Cluster Maintenance: Consonant clusters are maintained within syllables unless breaking them creates a more natural syllabic structure.
3. Avoid Stranded Consonants: Consonants are not left isolated between vowels.

Special Considerations:

The 'gn' cluster is a common feature of French phonology and is treated as a single unit within the syllable. The final 's' is subject to liaison, which doesn't affect the syllabification but impacts pronunciation.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Pronunciation is relatively standard. However, some regional accents might slightly alter vowel qualities. This would not affect the syllabification.

Short Analysis:

"Significatives" is a French adjective derived from Latin roots. It is syllabified as si-gni-fi-ca-tives, with stress on the final syllable. Syllabification follows the open syllable principle and avoids stranded consonants. The word's structure is consistent with other French words containing the "-atives" suffix.