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Hyphenation ofsous-directeur

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

sou-di-rek-tœʁ

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

/su.di.ʁɛk.tœʁ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0001

The primary stress falls on the final syllable /tœʁ/ as is typical in French.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

sou/su/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

di/di/

Open syllable.

rek/ʁɛk/

Closed syllable, contains a consonant cluster.

tœʁ/tœʁ/

Closed syllable, stressed syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

sous-(prefix)
+
directeur(root)
+
(suffix)

Prefix: sous-

From Old French 'sos', ultimately from Latin 'sub-', meaning 'under, below'. Indicates a subordinate position.

Root: directeur

From Old French 'directeur', ultimately from Latin 'director', meaning 'director, guide'.

Suffix:

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A deputy director, assistant director, or vice-director.

Translation: Deputy director

Examples:

"Le sous-directeur a présenté le rapport."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

directeurdi-rek-tœʁ

Shares the root 'directeur' and similar syllable structure.

sous-chefsu-ʃɛf

Shares the prefix 'sous-' and similar stress pattern.

sur-veillersyʁ.vɛ.je

Shares a prefix structure and similar syllable division principles.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Maximize Onsets

French favors syllables with consonant onsets whenever possible.

Avoid Stranded Consonants

Consonants are generally not left at the end of a syllable unless they form a permissible cluster.

Final Syllable Stress

French generally stresses the final syllable of a word.

Special Considerations

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

The hyphen does not affect the syllabification process; it simply indicates a compound word.

Regional variations in the pronunciation of /ʁ/ do not alter the syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'sous-directeur' is a compound noun meaning 'deputy director'. It is divided into four syllables: sou-di-rek-tœʁ, with stress on the final syllable. The syllabification follows standard French rules, maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants. The morphemic breakdown reveals a prefix 'sous-' and a root 'directeur'.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "sous-directeur"

1. Pronunciation: The word "sous-directeur" is pronounced approximately as /su.di.ʁɛk.tœʁ/ 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"). Morphological function: indicates a position or role subordinate to another.
  • Root: directeur (from Old French directeur, ultimately from Latin director meaning "director, guide"). Morphological function: denotes the role of a director.
  • Hyphen: The hyphen is a linking element, not a morpheme.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the final syllable: /di.ʁɛk.tœʁ/. French stress is generally on the last syllable of a phrase or word.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /su.di.ʁɛk.tœʁ/

6. Edge Case Review: Compound words with hyphens in French can sometimes present challenges. However, the rule of maximizing onsets and avoiding consonant clusters at syllable boundaries applies consistently here.

7. Grammatical Role: "Sous-directeur" functions as a noun, specifically a masculine noun. The syllabification remains consistent regardless of its grammatical role within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A deputy director, assistant director, or vice-director.
  • Translation: Deputy director
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine)
  • Synonyms: adjoint au directeur, vice-directeur
  • Antonyms: directeur général (general director)
  • Examples: "Le sous-directeur a présenté le rapport." (The deputy director presented the report.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • directeur: di-rek-tœʁ - Similar syllable structure, stress on the final syllable.
  • sous-chef: su-ʃɛf - Similar prefix sous-, stress on the final syllable.
  • sur-veiller: syʁ.vɛ.je - Similar prefix sur-, stress on the final syllable.

The syllable division in "sous-directeur" follows the same pattern as these words: maximizing onsets and avoiding consonant clusters. The presence of the hyphen doesn't alter the fundamental syllabification rules.

10. Syllable Analysis with Rules and Exceptions:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
sou /su/ Open syllable Maximizing onsets; vowel followed by consonant None
di /di/ Open syllable Maximizing onsets; vowel followed by consonant None
rek /ʁɛk/ Closed syllable Consonant cluster permissible at the end of a syllable None
tœʁ /tœʁ/ Closed syllable Stress falls on this syllable; consonant cluster permissible at the end of a syllable None

11. Division Rules Applied:

  • Maximize Onsets: French favors syllables with consonant onsets whenever possible.
  • Avoid Stranded Consonants: Consonants are generally not left at the end of a syllable unless they form a permissible cluster.
  • Final Syllable Stress: French generally stresses the final syllable of a word.

12. Special Considerations: The hyphen doesn't affect the syllabification process; it simply indicates a compound word.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: While the pronunciation is relatively standard, some regional variations might exist in the realization of the /ʁ/ sound (uvular or alveolar trill). This doesn't affect the syllable division.

14. Short Analysis: "Sous-directeur" is a compound noun meaning "deputy director." It is divided into four syllables: sou-di-rek-tœʁ, with stress on the final syllable. The syllabification follows standard French rules of maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants. The morphemic breakdown reveals a prefix sous- meaning "under" and a root directeur meaning "director."

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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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.