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Hyphenation ofsous-commissions

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

sou-com-mis-sions

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

/su.kɔ.mi.sjɔ̃/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0001

Stress falls on the last syllable ('sions') in standard French.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

sou/su/

Open syllable, onset 's', nucleus 'ou'

com/kɔ/

Closed syllable, onset 'c', nucleus 'o', coda 'm'

mis/mi/

Open syllable, onset 'm', nucleus 'i'

sions/sjɔ̃/

Closed syllable, onset 's', nucleus 'jɔ̃', coda 'n'

Morphemic Breakdown

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

sous-(prefix)
+
commission(root)
+
-s(suffix)

Prefix: sous-

From Old French 'sos', ultimately from Latin 'sub-', meaning 'under, below'. Indicates a position or state below or secondary to something.

Root: commission

From Old French 'comission', ultimately from Latin 'commissio', meaning 'a sending, a charge'. The core meaning relating to a task or group assigned a task.

Suffix: -s

French plural marker, from Latin. Indicates plurality.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Subcommittees; smaller groups formed from a larger commission to handle specific tasks.

Translation: Subcommittees

Examples:

"Les sous-commissions ont examiné les propositions."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

commissionscom-mis-sions

Shares the '-sions' ending, demonstrating consistent syllabification.

positionspo-si-tions

Shares the '-sions' ending, demonstrating consistent syllabification.

omissionso-mis-sions

Shares the '-sions' ending, demonstrating consistent syllabification.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Maximize Onsets

Consonant clusters are maximized in the onset of each syllable.

Vowel Nucleus

Each syllable must contain a vowel nucleus.

Avoid Stranded Consonants

Consonants are not left as the sole coda unless they are sonorants.

Special Considerations

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

Liaison with following words is not considered for internal syllabification.

Regional variations in vowel quality may exist but do not alter the syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'sous-commissions' is divided into four syllables: sou-com-mis-sions. It consists of the prefix 'sous-', the root 'commission', and the suffix '-s'. Stress falls on the final syllable. Syllabification follows the rules of maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants, with each syllable containing a vowel nucleus.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "sous-commissions"

1. Pronunciation: The word "sous-commissions" is pronounced /su.kɔ.mi.sjɔ̃/ in standard French.

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: sous- (from Old French sos, ultimately from Latin sub- meaning "under, below"). Function: Indicates a position or state below or secondary to something.
  • Root: commission (from Old French comission, ultimately from Latin commissio meaning "a sending, a charge"). Function: The core meaning relating to a task or group assigned a task.
  • Suffix: -s (French plural marker, from Latin). Function: Indicates plurality.

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

5. Phonetic Transcription: /su.kɔ.mi.sjɔ̃/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • sou-: /su/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei. The 's' is the onset, and 'ou' forms the nucleus. No exceptions.
  • -com-: /kɔ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are maximized in the onset. 'c' is the onset, 'o' is the nucleus, and 'm' is the coda.
  • -mis-: /mi/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel nuclei create syllables. 'm' is the onset, 'i' is the nucleus.
  • -sions: /sjɔ̃/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Nasal vowels form syllable nuclei. 's' is the onset, 'jɔ̃' is the nucleus and coda.

7. Edge Case Review: French syllabification generally avoids leaving a single consonant as a coda unless it's a sonorant (l, m, n, r). This rule is followed here. The liaison possibilities with following words are not relevant to the internal syllabification of this isolated word.

8. Grammatical Role: "sous-commissions" is a noun. The syllabification remains consistent regardless of its grammatical function within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Subcommittees; smaller groups formed from a larger commission to handle specific tasks.
  • Translation: Subcommittees
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine plural)
  • Synonyms: sous-groupes, comités secondaires
  • Antonyms: commission principale (main commission)
  • Examples: "Les sous-commissions ont examiné les propositions." (The subcommittees examined the proposals.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: While the standard pronunciation is /su.kɔ.mi.sjɔ̃/, some regional variations might exhibit slight differences in vowel quality, but these do not significantly alter the syllabification.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • commissions: /kɔ.mi.sjɔ̃/ - Syllables: com-mis-sions. Similar structure, demonstrating the consistent syllabification of "-sions".
  • positions: /pɔ.zi.sjɔ̃/ - Syllables: po-si-tions. Similar structure, showing the consistent syllabification of "-sions".
  • omissions: /ɔ.mi.sjɔ̃/ - Syllables: o-mis-sions. Similar structure, again demonstrating the consistent syllabification of "-sions".

The consistent syllabification of "-sions" across these words highlights the regularity of French syllable structure. The initial consonant clusters are also handled similarly, maximizing onsets.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.