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Hyphenation ofafvalstoffenbelasting

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

af-val-stof-fen-be-las-ting

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

/əfˈvɑl.stɔf.ən.bəˈlaːs.tɪŋ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0000100

Primary stress falls on the fifth syllable ('be-'), following the general Dutch rule of stressing the penultimate syllable.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

af/ɑf/

Open syllable (CV), unstressed.

val/vɑl/

Open syllable (CV), unstressed.

stof/stɔf/

Open syllable (CV), unstressed.

fen/fən/

Open syllable (CV), unstressed.

be/bə/

Open syllable (CV), primary stressed.

las/laːs/

Open syllable (CV), unstressed.

ting/tɪŋ/

Closed syllable (CVC), unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

af-(prefix)
+
val(root)
+
stoffenbelasting(suffix)

Prefix: af-

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

Root: val

Germanic origin, meaning 'fall', 'waste'.

Suffix: stoffenbelasting

Combination of 'stoffen' (materials) and 'belasting' (tax), forming a compound noun.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Tax levied on waste materials.

Translation: Waste materials tax

Examples:

"De gemeente verhoogt de afvalstoffenbelasting."

"De afvalstoffenbelasting is bedoeld om recycling te stimuleren."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

waterleidingwa-ter-lei-ding

Similar syllable structure (CV-CV-CV-CVC) and compound noun formation.

gemeentebestuurge-meen-te-be-stuur

Similar compound structure and stress pattern.

milieubeschermingmi-lieu-be-scherm-ing

Similar compound structure and syllable division principles.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Preference

Dutch prefers to create open syllables (CV) whenever possible.

Consonant Cluster Handling

Consonant clusters are permissible, but often broken up to create open syllables.

Special Considerations

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

Vowel length influences syllable weight and stress.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation may exist, but do not affect syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'afvalstoffenbelasting' is a Dutch compound noun divided into seven syllables (af-val-stof-fen-be-las-ting) with primary stress on 'be-'. Syllabification follows the rule of preferring open syllables (CV) and handling consonant clusters. It consists of the prefix 'af-', root 'val', 'stoffen', prefix 'be-' and suffix 'lasting'.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: afvalstoffenbelasting

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "afvalstoffenbelasting" is a compound noun in Dutch, meaning "waste materials tax". It's a relatively long word, typical of Dutch, formed by concatenating several morphemes. Pronunciation involves a mix of short and long vowels, and consonant clusters.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which generally favor open syllables (CV structure) whenever possible, and respecting vowel length, the division is as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • af-: Prefix (Germanic origin) - meaning "off", "away from".
  • val: Root (Germanic origin) - meaning "fall", "waste".
  • stoffen: Root (Germanic origin) - meaning "materials", "substances". Derived from "stof" (dust, material).
  • be-: Prefix (Germanic origin) - often used to form verbs, but here functions as part of the compound noun.
  • lasting: Suffix (Germanic origin) - meaning "tax", "levy". Derived from "belasten" (to tax).

4. Stress Identification:

Dutch stress is generally on the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable. In this case, the primary stress falls on "be-".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/əfˈvɑl.stɔf.ən.bəˈlaːs.tɪŋ/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

  • af /ɑf/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. No exceptions.
  • val /vɑl/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. No exceptions.
  • stof /stɔf/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. The 'st' cluster is permissible at the beginning of a syllable. No exceptions.
  • fen /fən/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. No exceptions.
  • be /bə/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. This syllable receives primary stress. No exceptions.
  • las /laːs/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. The long vowel /aː/ influences the syllable weight. No exceptions.
  • ting /tɪŋ/ - Closed syllable (CVC). Rule: When an open syllable is followed by a consonant, a new syllable is formed. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for complex consonant clusters, but generally prefers to break them up to create open syllables. The 'st' cluster in "stof" is a common example. The vowel length in "lasting" also influences the syllable weight and stress.

8. Grammatical Role:

The word is primarily a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function, as it's a compound noun.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: afvalstoffenbelasting
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Definitions:
    • "Tax levied on waste materials."
    • "Waste materials tax."
  • Translation: Waste materials tax
  • Synonyms: milieubelasting (environmental tax), afvalheffing (waste levy)
  • Antonyms: None directly applicable.
  • Examples:
    • "De gemeente verhoogt de afvalstoffenbelasting." (The municipality is increasing the waste materials tax.)
    • "De afvalstoffenbelasting is bedoeld om recycling te stimuleren." (The waste materials tax is intended to stimulate recycling.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist in Dutch, but they generally don't affect the syllabification. Some speakers might pronounce the /ɑ/ in "afval" slightly more open or closed, but the syllable division remains the same.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • waterleiding (water supply): wa-ter-lei-ding. Similar syllable structure (CV-CV-CV-CVC).
  • gemeentebestuur (municipal government): ge-meen-te-be-stuur. Similar compound structure and stress pattern.
  • milieubescherming (environmental protection): mi-lieu-be-scherm-ing. Similar compound structure and syllable division principles.

The differences lie in the specific vowel and consonant combinations, but the underlying syllabification rules (preference for open syllables, consonant cluster handling) are consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

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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.