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Hyphenation ofachterkleinkinderen

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ach-ter-klein-kin-de-ren

Phonetic Transcription:(how the word sounds using IPA symbols)

/ɑx.tər.klɛin.kɪn.də.rən/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

001000

Primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable 'klein'. The stress pattern is typical for Dutch words of this length and structure.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

Syllables are the building blocks of words - each one typically contains a vowel sound

ach/ɑx/

Open syllable, initial syllable.

ter/tər/

Open syllable, contains a schwa.

klein/klɛin/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

kin/kɪn/

Closed syllable.

de/də/

Open syllable, contains a schwa.

ren/rən/

Open syllable, final syllable.

Morphemic Breakdown

Morphemes are the smallest meaningful parts of words: prefixes (beginning), roots (core meaning), and suffixes (ending)

achter-(prefix)
+
klein-kinder-(root)
+
-en(suffix)

Prefix: achter-

Dutch, meaning 'behind' or 'great-', indicates generational remove.

Root: klein-kinder-

Dutch, 'klein' meaning 'small/grand', 'kinder' meaning 'child/children', core meaning relating to offspring.

Suffix: -en

Dutch, plural marker for nouns.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Great-grandchildren

Translation: Great-grandchildren

Examples:

"Zijn achterkleinkinderen bezoeken hem elke week."

"Ze is trots op haar achterkleinkinderen."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

kleinkinderenklein-kin-de-ren

Shares the 'klein' and 'kinderen' morphemes, demonstrating consistent syllabification.

achterkinderenach-ter-kin-de-ren

Shares the 'achter-' prefix and 'kinderen' root, showing consistent prefix separation.

vooroudersvoor-ou-ders

Demonstrates a different compound structure but adheres to vowel-centric syllabification.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel-Centric Syllabification

Dutch syllables are built around vowel sounds, with each vowel forming the nucleus.

Consonant Cluster Handling

Consonant clusters are generally kept together unless easily separable by sonority.

Diphthong Integrity

Diphthongs are never split across syllable boundaries.

Prefix/Suffix Separation

Prefixes and suffixes often form separate syllables.

Special Considerations

Important exceptions or unusual features in this word's pronunciation or structure

The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of morpheme boundaries.

The 'nk' cluster is a common feature and doesn't typically cause issues.

Regional variations in pronunciation might affect vowel quality but not syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'achterkleinkinderen' is syllabified as ach-ter-klein-kin-de-ren, with primary stress on 'klein'. It's a compound noun meaning 'great-grandchildren', formed from the prefix 'achter-', the root 'klein-kinder-', and the plural suffix '-en'. Syllabification follows vowel-centric rules, keeping consonant clusters and diphthongs intact.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "achterkleinkinderen" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "achterkleinkinderen" refers to great-grandchildren. Its pronunciation involves a complex sequence of sounds, typical of Dutch compound words. The 'g' is a voiced velar fricative /ɣ/, and the 'ei' is a diphthong /ɛi/. The 'nk' cluster requires careful consideration.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid splitting diphthongs or consonant clusters where possible, the word breaks down as follows (orthographically): ach-ter-klein-kin-de-ren.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • achter-: Prefix, origin: Dutch, meaning "behind" or "great-". Function: Indicates a generational remove.
  • klein-: Root, origin: Dutch, meaning "small" or "grand". Function: Indicates a generational level.
  • kinder-: Root, origin: Dutch, meaning "child/children". Function: Core meaning relating to offspring.
  • -en: Suffix, origin: Dutch, plural marker for nouns. Function: Indicates multiple great-grandchildren.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable: klein. This is typical for Dutch words of this length and structure.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɑx.tər.klɛin.kɪn.də.rən/

6. Edge Case Review:

The 'nk' cluster is a potential edge case. Dutch generally allows consonant clusters within a syllable, but the 'nk' is often treated as a single unit for phonetic purposes. The 'ei' diphthong is always kept within a single syllable.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Achterkleinkinderen" functions exclusively as a noun (plural). Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Great-grandchildren.
  • Part of Speech: Noun (plural)
  • Translation: Great-grandchildren
  • Synonyms: (None readily available as a single word)
  • Antonyms: (None readily available as a single word)
  • Examples:
    • "Zijn achterkleinkinderen bezoeken hem elke week." (His great-grandchildren visit him every week.)
    • "Ze is trots op haar achterkleinkinderen." (She is proud of her great-grandchildren.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • kleinkinderen (grandchildren): klein-kin-de-ren. Similar structure, demonstrating the consistent syllabification of 'klein' and 'kinderen'.
  • achterkinderen (stepchildren): ach-ter-kin-de-ren. Shows how 'achter-' consistently forms its own syllable.
  • voorouders (ancestors): voor-ou-ders. Demonstrates a different compound structure, but still adheres to vowel-centric syllabification.

10. Division Rules:

  • Rule 1: Vowel-Centric Syllabification: Dutch syllables are generally built around vowel sounds. Each vowel (or diphthong) typically forms the nucleus of a syllable.
  • Rule 2: Consonant Cluster Handling: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are easily separable based on sonority.
  • Rule 3: Diphthong Integrity: Diphthongs (like 'ei') are never split across syllable boundaries.
  • Rule 4: Prefix/Suffix Separation: Prefixes and suffixes often form separate syllables, especially if they are easily identifiable morphemes.

11. Special Considerations:

The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of morpheme boundaries. The 'nk' cluster is a common feature in Dutch and doesn't typically cause syllabification issues. Regional variations in pronunciation might affect the precise realization of vowels, but not the core syllable structure.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

While the standard pronunciation is /ɑx.tər.klɛin.kɪn.də.rən/, some regional variations might exhibit slight differences in vowel quality or the realization of the 'g' sound. However, these variations generally do not alter the syllable division.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.