Hyphenation ofsuperficielles

Analysis of "superficielles"

1. Pronunciation: The word "superficielles" is pronounced with a relatively even stress distribution, though the final syllable receives a slight emphasis. The 'r' is a uvular fricative, typical of French.

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: super- (Latin, meaning "above," "over") - modifies the root, indicating a higher degree or extent.
• Root: ficie- (Latin facere - "to do," "to make") - forms the base meaning related to making or creating.
• Suffix: -cielles (French, derived from Latin -tialis) - forms the feminine plural adjective. This suffix indicates a quality or characteristic.

4. Stress Identification: The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: fi-ci-el-les. While French stress is generally on the final syllable, adjectives ending in -el(le) often shift the stress to the penultimate syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription: /sy.pɛʁ.fi.sjɛl/

6. Edge Case Review: French syllable structure generally avoids consonant clusters at the end of syllables. The 'r' in "super-" and the 'c' in "superficielles" are potential points of consideration, but they are standard within French phonotactics.

7. Grammatical Role: "Superficielles" is an adjective. As an adjective, the stress pattern remains consistent. If it were used as a noun (less common), the stress would likely shift to the final syllable.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Superficielles means "superficial" or "surface-level." It describes something that is shallow, not deep, or concerned only with the outward appearance.
• Grammatical Category: Adjective (feminine plural)
• Translation: Superficial
• Synonyms: superficiel (masculine singular), extérieur, apparent
• Antonyms: profond, essentiel, intrinsèque
• Examples:
  • "Des analyses superficielles." (Superficial analyses.)
  • "Les blessures sont superficielles." (The wounds are superficial.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Difficultés: /di.fi.ky.te/ - Similar syllable structure with consonant clusters. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
• Spécialités: /spe.sja.li.te/ - Similar syllable structure, with a final vowel. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
• Particularités: /paʁ.ti.ky.la.ʁi.te/ - Longer word, but shares the pattern of vowel-initial syllables and consonant clusters. Stress on the antepenultimate syllable.

10. Syllable Breakdown with Rules & Exceptions:

11. Exceptions/Special Cases for the Word as a Whole: The stress pattern on the penultimate syllable is a common feature of adjectives ending in -el(le).

12. Syllable Division Rules:

• Maximize Onsets: French prefers to maximize the number of consonants in the onset of a syllable.
• Avoid Stranded Consonants: Consonants are generally not left at the end of a syllable unless they are part of a consonant cluster.
• Vowel-Initial Syllables: Syllables often begin with vowels.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations: While the pronunciation is relatively standard, some regional variations might exist in the articulation of the 'r' sound (e.g., a more alveolar 'r' in some southern regions). This would not affect the syllable division.

14. Short Analysis: "Superficielles" is a French adjective meaning "superficial." It is divided into six syllables: su-per-fi-ci-el-les. The stress falls on the penultimate syllable (fi-ci-el-les). The word is derived from Latin roots and follows standard French syllable division rules, maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants.