Hyphenation ofalcoholafhankelijkheid

Dutch Word Analysis: alcoholafhankelijkheid

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "alcoholafhankelijkheid" (alcohol dependence) is a complex compound noun in Dutch. Its pronunciation involves a series of vowel and consonant clusters, typical of Dutch morphology. The word is pronounced with relatively even stress, though the final syllable receives a slight emphasis.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, the word is divided as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• alcohol-: Prefix, derived from Arabic al-kuhl (meaning "the spirit"). Functions as a lexical item denoting the substance.
• af-: Prefix, Germanic origin, indicating negation or removal. In this context, it signifies a state without or lacking the positive aspects associated with alcohol.
• hankelijk-: Root, Germanic origin, related to hankelijk zijn (to depend on). Indicates a state of reliance.
• -heid: Suffix, Germanic origin, forming abstract nouns denoting a state or condition.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: "af-han-ke-lijk-heid". While Dutch stress is often on the first syllable of a word, compound words like this often have stress on the penultimate syllable.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɑlkoˈɦɔlafɦɑ̃kəlɛi̯khɛit/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

• al-: /ɑl/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei. No consonant clusters prevent division here.
• co-: /ˈko/ - Open syllable. Rule: Same as above.
• hol-: /ɦɔl/ - Open syllable. Rule: Same as above.
• af-: /ɑf/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei.
• han-: /ɦɑ̃/ - Nasal vowel creates a syllable. Rule: Vowel sounds, even nasalized, form syllable nuclei.
• ke-: /kə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Same as above.
• lijk-: /lɛi̯x/ - Diphthong creates a syllable. Rule: Diphthongs function as single vowel nuclei.
• heid: /xɛit/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster at the end of the word forms a closed syllable.

7. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for some flexibility in syllabification, particularly with consonant clusters. However, the above division adheres to the most common and accepted rules. The 'af-' prefix is always a separate syllable.

8. Grammatical Role:

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

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Word: alcoholafhankelijkheid
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Definitions:
  • "The state of being dependent on alcohol."
  • "Alcohol dependence."
• Translation: Alcohol dependence
• Synonyms: alcoholisme (alcoholism), verslaving (addiction)
• Antonyms: nuchterheid (sobriety), matigheid (moderation)
• Examples:
  • "Zijn alcoholafhankelijkheid was een groot probleem voor zijn gezin." (His alcohol dependence was a major problem for his family.)
  • "Ze zocht hulp voor haar alcoholafhankelijkheid." (She sought help for her alcohol dependence.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in Dutch pronunciation exist, but they generally do not affect the core syllabification. Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "af-", but the syllable division remains the same.

11. Phonological Comparison:

• verantwoordelijkheid (responsibility): ver-ant-woor-de-lijk-heid. Similar structure with prefixes and suffixes. Stress pattern is also similar (penultimate syllable).
• onafhankelijkheid (independence): o-naf-han-ke-lijk-heid. Similar prefix ('af-' vs 'on-') and suffix ('-heid'). Syllable division follows the same rules.
• gezondheidszorg (healthcare): ge-zond-heids-zorg. While a compound, it demonstrates a different stress pattern (first syllable). This is because it's formed from two distinct words rather than a prefix-root-suffix structure.