Hyphenation ofsourdes-muettes

Analysis of "sourdes-muettes"

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "sourdes-muettes" is a compound adjective in French, meaning "deaf-mute." It's formed by combining "sourdes" (feminine plural of "sourd" - deaf) and "muettes" (feminine plural of "muet" - mute). The pronunciation involves nasal vowels and liaison possibilities.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• sourdes:
  • Prefix: None
  • Root: sourd (Latin surdus - deaf) - Adjective root.
  • Suffix: -es (French feminine plural marker) - Morphological function: number and gender agreement.
• muettes:
  • Prefix: None
  • Root: muet (Latin mutus - mute) - Adjective root.
  • Suffix: -es (French feminine plural marker) - Morphological function: number and gender agreement.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. In compound adjectives, the stress generally falls on the last element. Therefore, the stress is on "muettes".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/suʁd.mɥɛt/

6. Edge Case Review:

The hyphenated structure presents a slight edge case. While each component is syllabified independently, the overall word is treated as a single prosodic unit. Liaison is possible between the two parts in certain contexts, but doesn't affect the core syllabification.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Sourdes-muettes" functions exclusively as an adjective. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Deaf-mute.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective (feminine plural).
• Translation: Deaf-mute
• Synonyms: None readily available as a single-word equivalent. "Personnes sourdes et muettes" (deaf and mute people) is a descriptive alternative.
• Antonyms: Entendant (hearing), parlant (speaking).
• Examples: "Les enfants sourdes-muettes ont besoin d'une éducation spécialisée." (The deaf-mute children need specialized education.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "sourdes-aveugles" (deaf-blind): souʁd.z‿a.vœɡl - Similar structure, stress on the last element.
• "grandes-personnes" (grown-ups): ɡʁɑ̃d.pɛʁ.sɔn - Similar compound adjective structure, stress on the last element.
• "petites-filles" (little girls): pə.tit.fij - Similar compound adjective structure, stress on the last element.

These comparisons demonstrate the consistent pattern of stress placement on the final element in compound adjectives.

Syllable Breakdown Details:

• sou: /su/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. No exceptions.
• rdes: /ʁd/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by a schwa. Exception: The 'r' is a rhotic consonant, which can sometimes create a more complex syllable structure.
• mu: /mɥ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by consonant. No exceptions.
• ettes: /ɛt/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant cluster. No exceptions.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel Peak: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
2. Avoid Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are generally kept within a syllable unless they are complex and difficult to pronounce.
3. Final Syllable Stress: Stress typically falls on the final syllable.

Special Considerations:

• The liaison between "sourdes" and "muettes" is context-dependent and doesn't alter the syllabification.
• The 'r' sound in "sourdes" can be challenging for non-native speakers, but it doesn't affect the syllable division.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

There are minimal regional variations in the pronunciation of this word. However, the degree of liaison can vary.