Hyphenation ofstratosphérique

Analysis of "stratosphérique"

1. Pronunciation Examination:

The word "stratosphérique" is pronounced with a relatively even stress distribution, though the final syllable receives a slight emphasis. The 'r' sounds are typically uvular in standard French.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking consonant clusters unless they are complex, the word divides as follows: stra-to-sphé-ri-que.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: strato- (Latin stratum - layer, covering). Function: Denotes a layer or region.
• Root: sphère (Greek sphaira - sphere). Function: Core meaning relating to a spherical shape or area.
• Suffix: -ique (Latin -icus). Function: Adjectival suffix, forming an adjective.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: sphé. This is typical for French adjectives ending in -ique.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/stʁa.to.sfe.ʁik/

6. Edge Case Review:

The consonant cluster "str" is generally treated as a single unit for syllabification purposes, as it's a common initial cluster in French. The 'r' sound is a key feature of French pronunciation and influences the surrounding vowel sounds.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Stratosphérique" functions primarily as an adjective. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its use in a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Relating to the stratosphere, the layer of the Earth's atmosphere above the troposphere.
• Translation: Stratospheric
• Grammatical Category: Adjective
• Synonyms: (None readily available as it's a very specific term)
• Antonyms: troposphérique (tropospheric)
• Examples:
  • "Les vols stratosphériques sont rares." (Stratospheric flights are rare.)
  • "La couche d'ozone protège contre les rayons UV stratosphériques." (The ozone layer protects against stratospheric UV rays.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• magnétique: mag-né-ti-que. Similar structure with a vowel-consonant-vowel pattern. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
• économique: é-co-no-mi-que. Similar -ique ending and stress pattern.
• fantastique: fan-tas-ti-que. Again, the -ique ending and penultimate stress are consistent. The initial consonant clusters differ, but the overall syllabic structure is comparable.

Detailed Syllable Analysis:

• stra: /stʁa/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. Exception: Initial consonant cluster "str" treated as a unit.
• to: /to/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
• sphé: /sfe/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant, and the syllable ends with a consonant. This syllable receives primary stress.
• ri: /ʁi/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel preceded by consonant.
• que: /k/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant, and the syllable ends with a consonant.

Exceptions/Special Cases:

The "str" cluster is a common exception to the rule of breaking up consonant clusters. The final "e" is silent but affects the pronunciation of the preceding vowel.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Vowel Peak Rule: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
2. Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally maintained unless they are complex or disrupt the natural flow of pronunciation.
3. Final Silent 'e' Rule: Silent 'e' at the end of a syllable doesn't create a new syllable but influences vowel pronunciation.
4. Stress Rule: Stress typically falls on the penultimate syllable in French adjectives ending in -ique.