Hyphenation ofsoixante-seize

Analysis of "soixante-seize"

1. Pronunciation: The word "soixante-seize" is pronounced approximately as /swa.sɑ̃t.sɛz/.

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants, is as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• soixante: From Old French soisante, ultimately from Latin sexaginta ("sixty"). Function: Numeral base.
• -seize: From Old French seize, ultimately from Latin sedecim ("sixteen"). Function: Numeral addition.

4. Stress Identification: In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. In this case, it falls on "-seize".

5. Phonetic Transcription: /swa.sɑ̃t.sɛz/

6. Edge Case Review: French syllabification generally avoids leaving a consonant without a vowel. Liaison (linking) can occur between words in connected speech, but doesn't affect the internal syllabification of "soixante-seize" itself.

7. Grammatical Role: "Soixante-seize" functions solely as a cardinal numeral (a number). Its grammatical role doesn't alter its syllabification or stress pattern.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Sixty-six
• Grammatical Category: Cardinal numeral
• Synonyms: None (it's a specific number)
• Antonyms: None (it's a specific number)
• Examples: "J'ai soixante-seize ans." (I am sixty-six years old.) "Il y a soixante-seize élèves dans la classe." (There are sixty-six students in the class.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• trente-deux: (thirty-two) - tren-te-dø - Similar structure (numeral + numeral). Syllabification follows the same principles.
• quarante-trois: (forty-three) - ka-ʁɑ̃t-tʁwa - Again, a compound numeral. Syllabification is consistent.
• cinquante-huit: (fifty-eight) - sɛ̃-kɑ̃t-ɥit - Similar structure, demonstrating the consistent application of syllabification rules to compound numerals.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Maximize Onsets: French prefers to create syllables with onsets (consonant sounds at the beginning of a syllable) whenever possible.
2. Avoid Stranded Consonants: Consonants are generally not left without a following vowel.
3. Vowel Groupings: Vowel clusters are often treated as a single syllable, especially when forming diphthongs or nasal vowels.

Special Considerations:

• The nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ in "xan" is a common feature of French and doesn't affect the syllabification rules.
• The hyphen in "soixante-seize" indicates a compound word but doesn't create a syllable break in the traditional sense. It's a visual marker.
• Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly alter the perceived syllable boundaries, but the core syllabification remains consistent.

Short Analysis:

"Soixante-seize" (sixty-six) is syllabified as soi-xan-te-sei-ze based on maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants. It's a compound numeral derived from Latin roots, with stress on the final syllable. The syllabification is consistent with other French compound numerals.