Hyphenation of't is dief en diefjesmaat

Linguistic Analysis of 't is dief en diefjesmaat (Dutch)

This analysis will break down the Dutch phrase "'t is dief en diefjesmaat" into its constituent syllables, morphemes, and phonetic representation, adhering to Dutch phonological rules.

1. IPA Transcription:

/ət ɪs dif ən difjəsmaːt/

2. Morphemic Breakdown:

• 't: Contraction of "het" (definite article, neuter singular). Origin: Old Dutch. Function: Determiner.
• is: Verb "zijn" (to be), 3rd person singular present tense. Origin: Proto-Germanic. Function: Copula.
• dief: Noun (thief). Origin: Middle Dutch. Function: Subject.
• en: Conjunction (and). Origin: Proto-Germanic. Function: Coordinator.
• diefjesmaat: Compound noun.
  • diefje: Diminutive of "dief" (little thief). Origin: Dutch diminutive suffix "-je". Function: Noun.
  • maat: Noun (measure, size, friend). Origin: Old Dutch. Function: Noun.

3. Stressed Syllable(s):

The primary stress falls on the final syllable of the compound noun "diefjesmaat": /difjəsmaːt/.

4. Syllables List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

• 't: /ət/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables typically end in a vowel sound in Dutch.
• is: /ɪs/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are permissible at the syllable coda.
• dief: /dif/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are permissible at the syllable coda.
• en: /ən/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables typically end in a vowel sound in Dutch.
• dief-jes-maat: /difjəsmaːt/ - This is a compound word, and the syllable division follows the constituent parts.
  • dief: /dif/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are permissible at the syllable coda.
  • jes: /jə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables typically end in a vowel sound in Dutch.
  • maat: /maːt/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are permissible at the syllable coda.

5. Syllable Division Rule Explanations:

• Sonority Sequencing Principle: Dutch syllable structure generally adheres to the sonority sequencing principle, where sonority (perceived loudness) decreases from the syllable onset to the coda.
• Vowel-Centric Syllabification: Dutch syllables are typically vowel-centric, meaning each syllable contains one vowel sound.
• Compound Word Syllabification: Compound words are syllabified based on the syllables of their constituent parts.

6. Exceptions/Special Cases per Syllable:

• 't: The contraction is a special case, representing a reduced form of "het".
• diefjesmaat: The compound noun requires recognizing the individual morphemes and their syllabic structure.

7. Exceptions/Special Cases for the Word as a Whole:

The contraction "'t" is a common exception to standard syllabification rules. The compound noun "diefjesmaat" is a relatively complex structure, but its syllabification is straightforward once the constituent parts are identified.

8. Syllabification Shifts with Parts of Speech:

The phrase doesn't contain words that significantly shift syllabification based on part of speech. The nouns and verb maintain consistent syllabic structures.

9. Definition & Semantics:

• 't is dief en diefjesmaat: (It is a thief and a little thief's measure/size/friend).
  • Part of Speech: Phrase (Declarative sentence)
  • Translation: "It is a thief and a little thief's measure/size/friend." (often used figuratively to describe someone who is a thief and also exploits others)
  • Synonyms: (figuratively) "A thief and a scoundrel."
  • Antonyms: (figuratively) "Honest and generous."
  • Examples: "Hij is 't is dief en diefjesmaat, hij steelt van iedereen." (He is a thief and a little thief's measure, he steals from everyone.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist in Dutch. For example, the /aː/ in "maat" might be pronounced slightly differently depending on the region. However, these variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison with Similar Words:

• 't is goed: /ət ɪs xuːt/ - Syllables: 't - is - goed. Similar structure to "'t is dief".
• de man is klein: /də mɑn ɪs klɛin/ - Syllables: de - man - is - klein. Similar use of "is" as a copula.
• een boek en een pen: /eːn buːk ən eːn pɛn/ - Syllables: een - boek - en - een - pen. Similar use of "en" as a conjunction.

The syllable division in these words follows the same principles of vowel-centric syllabification and permissible consonant clusters. The primary difference lies in the specific vowel and consonant sequences, which determine the phonetic realization of each syllable.