Hyphenation ofdoelgroepvermindering

Dutch Word Analysis: doelgroepvermindering

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "doelgroepvermindering" is a compound noun in Dutch, meaning "target group reduction." It's a relatively long word, typical of Dutch, formed by concatenating several morphemes. Pronunciation involves a mix of vowel qualities and consonant clusters common in Dutch.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which generally favor open syllables (CV) and avoid leaving single consonants at the beginning of a syllable, the division is as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• doel-: Root. Origin: Old Dutch dōl meaning "goal, purpose". Morphological function: Noun root.
• groep-: Root. Origin: Old Dutch grōp meaning "group". Morphological function: Noun root.
• ver-: Prefix. Origin: Germanic. Morphological function: Indicates a change of state or direction, often a reduction or lessening.
• minder-: Root. Origin: Old Dutch mindre meaning "less". Morphological function: Noun root.
• -ing: Suffix. Origin: Germanic. Morphological function: Forms a noun denoting a process or result.

4. Stress Identification:

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

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈdoːlɣrupfərˈmɪndərɪŋ/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for complex consonant clusters, which can influence syllabification. The "vr" cluster is treated as a single onset.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word is exclusively a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Word: doelgroepvermindering
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• English Translation: Target group reduction
• Synonyms: doelgroepafname, doelgroepkrimp
• Antonyms: doelgroepuitbreiding, doelgroepgroei
• Examples:
  • "De doelgroepvermindering heeft geleid tot lagere omzetcijfers." (The target group reduction led to lower turnover figures.)
  • "We moeten strategieën ontwikkelen om de doelgroepvermindering tegen te gaan." (We need to develop strategies to counteract the target group reduction.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• werkloosheid (unemployment): wer-kloos-heid. Similar syllable structure with consonant clusters. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
• levensstandaard (standard of living): le-vens-stan-daard. Similar compound structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
• arbeidsmarkt (labor market): ar-beids-markt. Similar compound structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.

The consistent stress pattern on the penultimate syllable across these words demonstrates a common feature of Dutch phonology. The presence of consonant clusters also aligns with typical Dutch syllable structures.

10. Division Rules:

• Rule 1: Open Syllable Preference: Dutch favors open syllables (CV). This is why "doel" is divided as "do-el" rather than "doe-l".
• Rule 2: Consonant Cluster Onset: Consonant clusters like "vr" are treated as a single onset, influencing the syllable division.
• Rule 3: Penultimate Stress: The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable in most Dutch words.
• Rule 4: Morpheme Boundaries: Syllable divisions often align with morpheme boundaries, but this is not a strict rule.

11. Special Considerations:

The compound nature of the word presents a challenge. While each component has its own pronunciation, the overall syllabification must adhere to Dutch phonological rules. The "vr" cluster is a common exception to the open syllable preference.