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Hyphenation ofafhandelingstermijn

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

af-han-de-ling-ster-mijn

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

/ɑfˈɦɑndələŋstɛrmiːn/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000100

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('ling'). Dutch generally exhibits penultimate stress, but compound words can have multiple stress points.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

af/ɑf/

Open syllable, unstressed.

han/ɦɑn/

Open syllable, unstressed.

de/də/

Open syllable, unstressed.

ling/lɪŋ/

Closed syllable, primary stress.

ster/stɛr/

Open syllable, unstressed.

mijn/mɛin/

Open syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

af(prefix)
+
handeling(root)
+
stermijn(suffix)

Prefix: af

Germanic origin, meaning 'off', 'away from', or 'completed'.

Root: handeling

Germanic origin, related to 'handelen' (to act, to handle).

Suffix: stermijn

Dutch origin, combining 'term' and 'mijn' (period).

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The period or deadline for completing a handling or processing task.

Translation: Processing deadline, completion term.

Examples:

"De afhandelingstermijn voor de aanvraag is twee weken."

"We moeten de afhandelingstermijn respecteren."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

verantwoordelijkheidver-van-t-woor-de-lijk-heid

Similar structure with compounding and stress on the penultimate syllable.

arbeidsongeschiktheidar-beids-on-ge-schikt-heid

Similar syllable structure, though with more consonant clusters.

overeenkomstigo-ver-een-komst-ig

Demonstrates a different stress pattern but similar compounding principles.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Consonant clusters are kept together as onsets whenever possible (e.g., 'st' in 'ster').

Open Syllable Preference

Dutch favors open syllables (CV) over closed syllables (CVC) when possible.

Compound Word Syllabification

Syllable boundaries often align with morpheme boundaries in compound words.

Special Considerations

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

Dutch allows for relatively flexible syllable division within compound words.

Regional variations in pronunciation may exist, but do not significantly alter the syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'afhandelingstermijn' is a Dutch compound noun divided into six syllables: af-han-de-ling-ster-mijn. The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('ling'). The word is composed of the prefix 'af-', the root 'handeling', and the suffix 'stermijn'. Syllabification follows Dutch rules favoring open syllables and maintaining consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: afhandelingstermijn

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "afhandelingstermijn" is a compound noun in Dutch. It's pronounced with a relatively even stress distribution, though the penultimate syllable receives slightly more emphasis. The 'g' is a voiced velar fricative /ɣ/, and the 'ij' is a diphthong /ɛi/.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which generally favor open syllables (CV) and avoid breaking up consonant clusters unless they are complex, the division is as follows (detailed in the JSON output).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • af-: Prefix (Germanic origin) - meaning "off," "away from," or "completed."
  • handeling: Root (Germanic origin) - meaning "handling," "processing," or "dealing with." Derived from the verb handelen ("to act," "to handle").
  • -stermijn: Suffix (Dutch) - meaning "term," "period," or "deadline." Derived from term (term) and mijn (period).

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: "-ling-". Dutch stress is generally penultimate, but compound words can have multiple stress points, with the main stress usually on the penultimate syllable of the final component.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɑfˈɦɑndələŋstɛrmiːn/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for relatively flexible syllable division within compound words. The division presented here is the most common and phonologically justifiable.

7. Grammatical Role:

"afhandelingstermijn" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: The period or deadline for completing a handling or processing task.
  • Translation: Processing deadline, completion term.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (de afhandelingstermijn)
  • Synonyms: verwerkingstermijn, afrondingstermijn
  • Antonyms: (None directly applicable, as it's a time period)
  • Examples:
    • "De afhandelingstermijn voor de aanvraag is twee weken." (The processing deadline for the application is two weeks.)
    • "We moeten de afhandelingstermijn respecteren." (We must respect the completion term.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • verantwoordelijkheid (responsibility): ver-van-t-woor-de-lijk-heid. Similar structure with compounding and stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • arbeidsongeschiktheid (disability): ar-beids-on-ge-schikt-heid. Similar syllable structure, though with more consonant clusters.
  • overeenkomstig (accordingly): o-ver-een-komst-ig. Demonstrates a different stress pattern (penultimate syllable) but similar compounding principles.

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in Dutch pronunciation exist, particularly in the realization of vowels and the 'g' sound. However, these variations do not significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Division Rules:

  • Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters are kept together as onsets whenever possible.
  • Open Syllable Preference: Dutch favors open syllables (CV) over closed syllables (CVC).
  • Compound Word Syllabification: Syllable boundaries often align with morpheme boundaries in compound words.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/12/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.