Hyphenation ofsous-traitante

Analysis of "sous-traitante"

1. Pronunciation: The word "sous-traitante" is pronounced approximately as /su.tʁɛ.tɑ̃t/.

2. Syllable Division: The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants, is: sous-trai-tante.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: sous- (Latin origin, meaning "under," "below"). Morphological function: prefix indicating a subordinate or secondary relationship.
• Root: trait- (from traiter, Latin tractare meaning "to treat," "to handle"). Morphological function: root denoting the action of handling or processing.
• Suffix: -ante (Latin origin, forming agent nouns or adjectives). Morphological function: indicates a female agent performing the action.

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

5. Phonetic Transcription: /su.tʁɛ.tɑ̃t/

6. Edge Case Review: French syllable structure generally avoids consonant clusters at the end of syllables. However, the /tʁ/ cluster is permissible and common. The nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ in the final syllable is a typical feature of French.

7. Grammatical Role: "Sous-traitante" is a feminine noun. The syllabification remains consistent regardless of grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: A company or individual that subcontracts work from another company.
• Translation: Subcontractor (feminine)
• Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine)
• Synonyms: prestataire, sous-contractuelle
• Antonyms: contractant principal
• Examples: "La sous-traitante a livré les pièces à temps." (The subcontractor delivered the parts on time.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "restaurant": re-stau-rant. Similar syllable structure, final stress.
• "important": im-por-tant. Similar syllable structure, final stress.
• "étudiante": é-tu-dian-te. Similar syllable structure, final stress, presence of a nasal vowel.

The differences lie in the initial consonant clusters and the presence of nasal vowels, which are common in French. The rule of maximizing onsets applies consistently across these words.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

• sous: /su/ - Open syllable. Rule applied: Consonant-Vowel (CV) structure. No exceptions.
• trai: /tʁɛ/ - Open syllable. Rule applied: Consonant-Vowel (CV) structure. The /tʁ/ cluster is permissible.
• tante: /tɑ̃t/ - Closed syllable. Rule applied: Consonant-Vowel-Consonant (CVC) structure. The nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ is a characteristic feature.

Exceptions and Special Cases:

• The /tʁ/ cluster is a common exception to the general rule of avoiding consonant clusters.
• The nasal vowel /ɑ̃/ requires specific phonetic realization.

Syllable Division Rules:

• Maximize Onsets: Attempt to include as many consonants as possible in the onset of a syllable.
• Avoid Stranded Consonants: Avoid leaving consonants without a following vowel.
• CV Structure Preference: French favors syllables with a Consonant-Vowel (CV) structure.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

There are minimal regional variations in the pronunciation of this word. However, the degree of nasalization in /ɑ̃/ can vary slightly.