Hyphenation ofbevolkingssamenstelling

Linguistic Analysis of "bevolkingssamenstelling" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "bevolkingssamenstelling" (population composition) is a complex noun in Dutch, formed through compounding. Its pronunciation involves a series of vowel and consonant clusters, typical of Dutch morphology.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid splitting diphthongs or consonant clusters where possible, the word is divided as follows (see JSON output for the orthographic representation).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• be-: Prefix (Germanic origin). Function: Intensifier or forming nouns from verbs.
• volk-: Root (Germanic origin). Meaning: people, population.
• -ing-: Suffix (Germanic origin). Function: Forms a noun from a verb (nominalizing suffix).
• -samen-: Root (Germanic origin). Meaning: together, composition.
• -stelling: Suffix (Germanic origin). Function: Forms a noun, denoting a state or arrangement.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: "stel-ling". This is typical for Dutch words, especially those with multiple syllables.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/bəˈvɔlkiŋsəmaːnˌstɛlɪŋ/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for some flexibility in syllable division, particularly with consonant clusters. However, the division presented here adheres to the most common and phonologically justifiable pattern.

7. Grammatical Role:

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

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The composition of a population, referring to its demographic characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, etc.).
• Grammatical Category: Noun (de - feminine)
• Translation: Population composition
• Synonyms: demografische samenstelling, bevolkingsstructuur
• Antonyms: None directly applicable.
• Examples:
  • "De bevolkingssamenstelling van Nederland verandert snel." (The population composition of the Netherlands is changing rapidly.)
  • "Een analyse van de bevolkingssamenstelling is essentieel voor beleidsplanning." (An analysis of the population composition is essential for policy planning.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• werkloosheid (unemployment): wer-kloos-heid. Similar syllable structure with consonant clusters. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
• overheidsbeleid (government policy): o-ver-heids-be-leid. Similar compounding structure. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
• levensstandaard (standard of living): le-vens-stan-daard. Similar vowel and consonant combinations. Stress on the antepenultimate syllable. The difference in stress placement is due to the differing length and weight of the syllables.

10. Division Rules:

• Vowel-Based Division: Syllables are generally formed around vowel sounds.
• Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are kept together within a syllable whenever possible, unless they are easily separable based on pronunciation.
• Diphthong Rule: Diphthongs are not split across syllable boundaries.
• Prefix/Suffix Rule: Prefixes and suffixes often form separate syllables.

11. Special Considerations:

The "ings" suffix can sometimes be pronounced as a single syllable, but in this case, it's more common to separate it into two syllables ("-ing-s").

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in pronunciation might affect the precise realization of vowels, but the syllable division remains largely consistent.