Hyphenation oftergiversation

Linguistic Analysis of "tergiversation" (French)

1. Pronunciation & Initial Examination:

The word "tergiversation" is a relatively complex French word, borrowed from Italian ("tergiversare"). Its pronunciation follows French phonological rules, including liaison and elision possibilities depending on the following word. It's important to note the presence of consonant clusters which influence syllable division.

2. Syllable Division:

Following French syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid splitting consonant clusters where possible, the word breaks down as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: ter- (Latin, meaning "threefold," but here functioning as an intensifier, similar to "completely").
• Root: giverse- (from Italian girasole, meaning "sunflower," metaphorically representing turning or changing).
• Suffix: -ation (Latin, forming a noun of action from a verb).

4. Stress Identification:

In French, stress typically falls on the last syllable of a word or phrase. However, in longer words like this, there's a tendency for a secondary stress on the antepenultimate syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/tɛʁ.ʒi.vɛʁ.sa.sjɔ̃/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

• ter-: /tɛʁ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. The 'r' is a rhotic consonant and is included in the syllable. Exception: The 't' and 'r' form a consonant cluster, but are not split as they are pronounced together.
• -gi-: /ʒi/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel 'i' forms the nucleus. The 'g' is followed by 'i' and is pronounced as /ʒ/.
• -ver-: /vɛʁ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel 'e' forms the nucleus. The 'r' is a rhotic consonant and is included in the syllable.
• -sa-: /sa/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel 'a' forms the nucleus.
• -sion: /sjɔ̃/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Nasal vowel 'ɔ̃' forms the nucleus. The 's' is a consonant preceding the vowel. Exception: The 's' is pronounced as /s/ before a vowel.

7. Edge Case Review:

The consonant cluster "rs" in "ter" is a common feature in French and doesn't typically lead to syllable separation. The nasal vowel in "-sion" is a characteristic of French and influences the syllable structure.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Tergiversation" is primarily a noun. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of grammatical function.

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Evasion of straightforward answers; equivocation; prevarication.
• Translation: Evasion, equivocation, prevarication.
• Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine)
• Synonyms: hésitation, ambigüité, réticence
• Antonyms: franchise, clarté, sincérité
• Examples: "Sa tergiversation constante a fini par agacer tout le monde." (His constant evasion eventually annoyed everyone.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the standard pronunciation is /tɛʁ.ʒi.vɛʁ.sa.sjɔ̃/, some regional variations might slightly alter the vowel quality or the pronunciation of the 'r'. However, these variations wouldn't significantly affect the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

• conversation: /kɔ̃.vɛʁ.sa.sjɔ̃/ - Syllables: con-ver-sa-tion. Similar nasal vowel ending.
• information: /ɛ̃.fɔʁ.ma.sjɔ̃/ - Syllables: in-for-ma-tion. Similar nasal vowel ending and consonant clusters.
• dérivation: /de.ʁi.va.sjɔ̃/ - Syllables: dé-ri-va-sion. Similar syllable structure with a nasal vowel ending.

The syllable division in these words is consistent with "tergiversation," demonstrating the application of French syllabification rules. The presence of nasal vowels and consonant clusters dictates the syllable boundaries.