Hyphenation ofsous-entendîtes

Analysis of "sous-entendîtes"

1. Pronunciation: The word "sous-entendîtes" is pronounced approximately as /su.z‿ɑ̃.tɑ̃.di.te/. The liaison between "sous" and "entendîtes" is common.

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of using only the original letters, is: sous-en-ten-dîtes.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: sous- (from Old French sos, ultimately from Latin sub- meaning "under, below"). Function: Intensifier, modifying the verb.
• Root: entend- (from Old French entendre, from Latin intendere meaning "to stretch the mind, to pay attention"). Function: Core meaning of understanding.
• Suffix: -îtes (from Old French –ez, ultimately from Latin -etis). Function: Second-person plural past historic indicative ending.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the final syllable: -dîtes.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /su.z‿ɑ̃.tɑ̃.di.te/

6. Edge Case Review: The liaison between "sous" and "entendîtes" is a common feature of French phonology and affects the syllabification slightly, creating a smoother transition.

7. Grammatical Role: "Sous-entendre" is a verb. The syllabification remains consistent regardless of tense or mood, though stress remains on the final syllable in most forms.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: To imply, to hint at, to suggest without stating directly.
• Translation: To imply, to suggest.
• Grammatical Category: Verb (past historic, second-person plural)
• Synonyms: suggérer, insinuer, laisser entendre
• Antonyms: exprimer, déclarer, affirmer
• Examples:
  • "Il sous-entendait qu'il était mécontent." (He was implying that he was unhappy.)
  • "Elle sous-entendit qu'elle ne viendrait pas." (She hinted that she wouldn't come.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "comprendre" (to understand): com-pren-dre. Similar syllable structure, stress on the final syllable.
• "entendre" (to hear): en-ten-dre. Similar root, stress on the final syllable.
• "sous-écrire" (to sign): sous-é-cri-re. Similar prefix, stress on the penultimate syllable. The difference in stress is due to the presence of the suffix "-écrire" versus "-dîtes".

10. Division Rules:

• Rule 1: Vowel Grouping: Vowels generally form a single syllable (e.g., en, te, di).
• Rule 2: Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are broken according to sonority, but in this case, the clusters are relatively simple and follow vowel boundaries.
• Rule 3: Prefix/Suffix Boundaries: Prefixes and suffixes are generally separated into distinct syllables.
• Rule 4: Liaison: Liaison creates a bridge between syllables, but doesn't alter the underlying syllable division based on orthography.

11. Special Considerations: The past historic tense is less common in spoken French, so the pronunciation and syllabification might be less frequently encountered. The liaison is crucial for natural pronunciation.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: While the standard pronunciation is as described, some regional variations might exist in the realization of the nasal vowels. However, these variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.