Hyphenation ofsous-vêtements

Analysis of "sous-vêtements"

1. Pronunciation: The word "sous-vêtements" is pronounced /su.vɛt.mɑ̃/ 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- (Old French, from Latin sub- meaning "under, below"). Function: Indicates position or inferiority.
• Root: vêt- (Old French, from Latin vestis meaning "garment"). Function: Core meaning related to clothing.
• Suffix: -ments (Old French, from Latin -mentum). Function: Forms a noun, often denoting a result or collection.

4. Stress Identification: In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. In this case, the stress falls on "-ments".

5. Phonetic Transcription: /su.vɛt.mɑ̃/

6. Edge Case Review: French syllabification generally avoids consonant clusters at the beginning of syllables. However, liaison (linking of final consonants to initial vowels) can occur in connected speech, which doesn't affect the underlying syllabic structure.

7. Grammatical Role: "Sous-vêtements" is exclusively a noun (plural). The syllabification remains consistent regardless of its grammatical function within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Undergarments, underwear.
• Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine plural)
• Synonyms: lingerie, vêtements intimes
• Antonyms: vêtements d'extérieur (outerwear)
• Examples:
  • "Elle a acheté de nouveaux sous-vêtements." (She bought new underwear.)
  • "Les sous-vêtements doivent être confortables." (Underwear must be comfortable.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• "commentaires": com-men-tai-res /kɔ.mɑ̃.taʁ/ - Similar syllable structure with nasal vowels.
• "départements": dé-par-te-ments /de.paʁ.tə.mɑ̃/ - Similar syllable structure with nasal vowels and multiple syllables.
• "instruments": in-stru-ments /ɛ̃.stʁy.mɑ̃/ - Similar syllable structure with nasal vowels and consonant clusters.

The differences in syllable division arise from the varying consonant and vowel sequences in each word. "Sous-vêtements" has a prefix and a root with a vowel, leading to a different division than the other words.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

Division Rules Applied:

1. Maximize Onsets: French prefers to maximize the number of consonants in the onset of a syllable.
2. Consonant Closure: Syllables generally end with a vowel, unless a consonant is required to close the syllable.
3. Nasal Vowel Rule: Nasal vowels form their own syllables.

Special Considerations:

• The hyphen in "sous-vêtements" doesn't affect the syllabification; it's a morphological marker.
• Liaison doesn't alter the underlying syllabic structure.
• Regional variations in pronunciation might slightly affect the perceived syllable boundaries, but the core syllabification remains consistent.

Short Analysis:

"Sous-vêtements" is divided into three syllables: "sous-vêt-ments". The word is composed of the prefix "sous-", the root "vêt-", and the suffix "-ments". Stress falls on the final syllable. The syllabification follows French rules of maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants, with the final syllable being a nasal syllable.