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Hyphenation ofsous-développés

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

sous-dé-ve-lop-pés

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

/su.de.vɛ.lɔ.pe/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

00001

The primary stress falls on the final syllable 'pés'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

sous/su/

Open syllable, containing only a vowel and a consonant.

/de/

Open syllable, containing only a vowel and a consonant.

ve/vɛ/

Open syllable, containing a vowel and a consonant.

lop/lɔp/

Closed syllable, containing a vowel and two consonants.

pés/pe/

Closed syllable, containing a vowel and two consonants.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

sous-(prefix)
+
développ-(root)
+
-és(suffix)

Prefix: sous-

Latin origin 'sub-', meaning 'under, below'. Functions as an intensifier.

Root: développ-

From 'développer', ultimately from Latin 'developare' meaning 'to unfold'. Core meaning of development.

Suffix: -és

Masculine plural past participle ending. Grammatical marker for gender and number.

Meanings & Definitions
adjective(grammatical role in sentences)

Lacking sufficient development; not fully grown or matured.

Translation: Underdeveloped

Examples:

"Les pays sous-développés"

"Des régions sous-développées"

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

développementsdé-vel-op-pe-ments

Shares the same root 'développ-' and similar syllable structure.

sous-marinsous-ma-rin

Contains the same prefix 'sous-' and follows similar syllabification rules.

développédé-vel-o-pé

Shares the same root and similar syllable structure, with a final closed syllable.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

French prefers to maximize onsets, leading to divisions like 'dé-vel-op'.

Avoid Stranded Consonants

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

Prefix Separation

Prefixes like 'sous-' are treated as separate syllables.

Vowel Grouping

Vowel groups are typically separated into distinct syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The hyphen in 'sous-développés' is a morphological marker, influencing prosodic grouping but not directly syllabification.

The 'ps' cluster in 'développés' is permissible despite being a consonant cluster.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'sous-développés' is divided into five syllables: sous-dé-ve-lop-pés. It consists of the prefix 'sous-', the root 'développ-', and the suffix '-és'. Stress falls on the final syllable. Syllabification follows French rules of onset maximization and avoiding stranded consonants.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "sous-développés"

1. Pronunciation: The word "sous-développés" is pronounced approximately as /su.de.vɛ.lɔ.pe/. The liaison between "dé" and "veloppés" is common, but not obligatory.

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:

  • Prefix: sous- (Latin sub- meaning "under, below"). Function: Intensifier, indicating a lack of development.
  • Root: développ- (from développer, ultimately from Latin developare meaning "to unfold"). Function: Core meaning of development.
  • Suffix: -és (French masculine plural past participle ending, indicating a completed action and plurality). Function: Grammatical marker for gender and number.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the final syllable: /su.de.vɛ.lɔ.pe/.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /su.de.vɛ.lɔ.pe/

6. Edge Case Review: French syllable structure generally avoids consonant clusters at the end of syllables. However, the "ps" cluster in "développés" is permissible. The hyphenated structure "sous-" is a prefix and is treated as a separate prosodic unit, influencing the stress pattern.

7. Grammatical Role: "Sous-développés" functions primarily as an adjective (masculine plural) meaning "underdeveloped." It can also function as the masculine plural past participle of the verb "sous-développer". Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of the grammatical role.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Lacking sufficient development; not fully grown or matured.
  • Translation: Underdeveloped
  • Grammatical Category: Adjective (masculine plural), Past Participle
  • Synonyms: immature, inachevé, imparfait
  • Antonyms: développé, mature, parfait
  • Examples:
    • "Les pays sous-développés" (Underdeveloped countries)
    • "Des régions sous-développées" (Underdeveloped regions)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "développements": dé-vel-op-pe-ments. Similar syllable structure, stress on the final syllable.
  • "sous-marin": sous-ma-rin. Similar prefix "sous-", syllable division follows similar rules.
  • "développé": dé-vel-o-pé. Similar root, stress on the final syllable. The final "-é" syllable is consistent.

10. Division Rules:

  • Rule 1: Onset Maximization: French prefers to maximize onsets (consonant sounds at the beginning of a syllable). This is applied in "dé-vel-op-pé".
  • Rule 2: Avoid Stranded Consonants: Consonants are generally not left at the end of a syllable unless they form part of a permissible cluster.
  • Rule 3: Prefix Separation: Prefixes like "sous-" are generally treated as separate syllables.
  • Rule 4: Vowel Grouping: Vowel groups are typically separated into distinct syllables.

11. Special Considerations: The hyphen in "sous-développés" is a morphological marker indicating a compound word. It doesn't directly affect syllabification but influences prosodic grouping.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: While the standard pronunciation is /su.de.vɛ.lɔ.pe/, some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "sous" to /sʊ/. This doesn't alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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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.