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Hyphenation ofsous-consommations

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

sou-s-con-som-ma-sjons

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

/su.kɔ̃.sɔ̃.ma.sjɔ̃/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000011

Stress falls on the final syllable '-sjons' in standard French pronunciation.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

sou/su/

Open syllable, vowel-initial.

s/s/

Single consonant syllable.

con/kɔ̃/

Open syllable, nasal vowel.

som/sɔ̃/

Open syllable, nasal vowel.

ma/ma/

Open syllable.

sjons/sjɔ̃/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster at the end.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

sous-(prefix)
+
consomm-(root)
+
-ations(suffix)

Prefix: sous-

Latin sub-, meaning 'under, below'. Intensifier.

Root: consomm-

From consommer, Latin consumere, meaning 'to use up, consume'.

Suffix: -ations

French nominalizing suffix, derived from Latin -ationem.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Under-consumptions; instances of consuming less than expected or required.

Translation: Under-consumptions

Examples:

"Les sous-consommations d'énergie sont un problème dans certaines régions."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

consommationcon-som-ma-tion

Shares the root 'consomm-' and the '-tion' suffix, demonstrating consistent syllabification.

sous-estimationsous-es-ti-ma-tion

Shares the prefix 'sous-' and the '-tion' suffix, illustrating similar syllabic structure.

transformationtrans-for-ma-tion

Shares the '-tion' suffix, confirming the consistent syllabification of this ending.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Based Syllabification

Syllables are primarily formed around vowel sounds. Each vowel sound typically constitutes a syllable nucleus.

Single Consonant Syllables

Single consonants between vowels can form their own syllables.

Consonant Cluster Syllabification

Consonant clusters at the end of a word typically form a closed syllable.

Special Considerations

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

The 's' between 'consomm' and 'ations' could be debated, but pronunciation supports its separation into a distinct syllable.

Nasal vowel pronunciation can have slight regional variations, but doesn't alter the syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'sous-consommations' is divided into six syllables: sou-s-con-som-ma-sjons. It consists of the prefix 'sous-', the root 'consomm-', and the suffix '-ations'. Stress falls on the final syllable. Syllabification follows vowel-based rules, allowing single consonant syllables and forming closed syllables with final consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "sous-consommations"

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "sous-consommations" presents challenges due to the liaison possibilities and the presence of multiple consonants. The pronunciation will be affected by the surrounding context in a sentence. However, for isolated word analysis, we will assume standard pronunciation.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are complex, the division will be as follows.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: sous- (Latin sub- meaning "under, below"). Function: Intensifier, indicating a deficiency or lesser degree.
  • Root: consomm- (from consommer, Latin consumere meaning "to use up, spend, consume"). Function: Core meaning of consumption.
  • Suffix: -ations (French suffix derived from Latin -ationem, nominalizing suffix). Function: Forms a noun denoting the act or result of consuming.

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a word or a grammatical group. In this case, the stress falls on "-tions".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/su.kɔ̃.sɔ̃.ma.sjɔ̃/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • sou-: /su/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No consonant cluster breaking needed.
  • -s: /s/ - This is a single consonant and forms a syllable on its own, as French allows single-consonant syllables. Rule: Single consonants can form a syllable.
  • -con-: /kɔ̃/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound dictates syllable boundary. Nasal vowel.
  • -som-: /sɔ̃/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound dictates syllable boundary. Nasal vowel.
  • -ma-: /ma/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel sound dictates syllable boundary.
  • -sjons: /sjɔ̃/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster at the end of the word forms a closed syllable.

7. Exceptions & Special Cases:

The "s" between "consomm" and "ations" is a potential point of debate. Some analyses might attempt to link it to the preceding syllable, but the pronunciation clearly separates it. The nasal vowels also require careful consideration.

8. Grammatical Role & Syllabification:

"Sous-consommations" is exclusively a noun. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of its grammatical function within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Under-consumptions; instances of consuming less than expected or required.
  • Translation: Under-consumptions
  • Part of Speech: Noun (feminine plural)
  • Synonyms: insuffisances de consommation, faibles consommations
  • Antonyms: surconsommations, excès de consommation
  • Examples: "Les sous-consommations d'énergie sont un problème dans certaines régions." (Under-consumption of energy is a problem in some regions.)

10. Regional Variations:

Pronunciation of nasal vowels can vary slightly regionally, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllabification.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • consommation: /kɔ̃.sɔ̃.ma.sjɔ̃/ - Syllables: con-som-ma-tion. Similar structure, demonstrating the consistent syllabification of "-tion" endings.
  • sous-estimation: /su.z‿e.sti.ma.sjɔ̃/ - Syllables: sous-es-ti-ma-tion. Similar prefix "sous-", and the "-tion" ending. Liaison occurs between "sous" and "estimation" in connected speech.
  • transformation: /tʁɑ̃s.fɔʁ.ma.sjɔ̃/ - Syllables: trans-for-ma-tion. Similar "-tion" ending, showing consistent syllabification.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/6/2025

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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.