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Hyphenation ofgelegenheidskoortje

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ge-le-gen-heid-skoort-je

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

/ɣə.lə.ɣənˈhɛit.skoːrt.jə/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

000010

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable 'skoort'.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

ge/ɣə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

le/lə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

gen/ɣən/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

heid/hɛit/

Closed syllable, unstressed.

skoort/skoːrt/

Closed syllable, stressed.

je/jə/

Open syllable, unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

ge-(prefix)
+
leg(root)
+
-enheid-je(suffix)

Prefix: ge-

Dutch prefix indicating a state or result, Germanic origin.

Root: leg

From 'legen' (to lie, to be situated), Proto-Germanic origin.

Suffix: -enheid-je

-heid nominalizing suffix, -je diminutive suffix, both Proto-Germanic origin.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A temporary, often irrational, enthusiasm or obsession, particularly with something new or fashionable.

Translation: Opportunity fever, little fever, craze

Examples:

"De gelegenheidskoortje rondom de nieuwe smartphone was enorm."

"Hij had een gelegenheidskoortje voor oude auto's."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

waarschijnlijkheidwa-ar-schijn-lijk-heid

Similar suffix structure and compound formation.

mogelijkheidmo-ge-lijk-heid

Shares the '-heid' suffix and similar root structure.

verantwoordelijkheidver-ant-woor-de-lijk-heid

Longer compound, but shares the *-heid* suffix and similar morphological principles.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Consonant clusters like 'sch' are kept together as onsets.

Vowel Nucleus

Each syllable must have a vowel nucleus. Diphthongs like 'ei' function as a single nucleus.

Sonority Sequencing

Syllable boundaries generally avoid breaking up sonority sequences.

Compound Word Syllabification

Compound words are syllabified as if they were separate words joined together.

Special Considerations

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

The 'g' at the beginning of 'gelegenheid' is a soft 'g' /ɣ/.

The diminutive suffix '-je' is very common and often creates a separate syllable.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'gelegenheidskoortje' is a Dutch compound noun syllabified into six syllables: ge-le-gen-heid-skoort-je. Stress falls on 'skoort'. It's formed from a prefix 'ge-', root 'leg', and suffixes '-enheid-je'. Syllabification follows onset maximization and vowel nucleus principles.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: gelegenheidskoortje

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "gelegenheidskoortje" (opportunity fever/little fever) is a compound noun in Dutch. Its pronunciation involves a complex sequence of sounds, including diphthongs, consonant clusters, and schwa sounds.

2. Syllable Division:

ge-le-gen-heid-skoort-je

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: ge- (Dutch, prefix indicating a state or result, often derived from Germanic roots)
  • Root: legen (Dutch, meaning 'to lie', 'to be situated', from Proto-Germanic *laganą)
  • Suffix: -heid (Dutch, nominalizing suffix, forming abstract nouns, from Proto-Germanic *-heidiz)
  • Compound element: koort (Dutch, meaning 'fever', from Proto-Germanic *kōrtaz)
  • Suffix: -je (Dutch, diminutive suffix, indicating smallness or endearment, from Proto-Germanic *-jō)

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: skoort.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɣə.lə.ɣənˈhɛit.skoːrt.jə/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch syllable structure is relatively flexible, but generally follows the principle of maximizing onsets. The 'sch' cluster is treated as a single onset. The 'ei' diphthong forms a single syllable nucleus.

7. Grammatical Role:

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

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A temporary, often irrational, enthusiasm or obsession, particularly with something new or fashionable. It can also refer to a mild form of mania.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (de)
  • Translation: Opportunity fever, little fever, craze
  • Synonyms: gekte (madness), enthousiasme (enthusiasm), waanzin (insanity)
  • Antonyms: onverschilligheid (indifference), kalmte (calmness)
  • Examples:
    • "De gelegenheidskoortje rondom de nieuwe smartphone was enorm." (The craze surrounding the new smartphone was enormous.)
    • "Hij had een gelegenheidskoortje voor oude auto's." (He had a craze for old cars.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • waarschijnlijkheid (probability): wa-ar-schijn-lijk-heid. Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
  • mogelijkheid (possibility): mo-ge-lijk-heid. Similar suffix structure. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • verantwoordelijkheid (responsibility): ver-ant-woor-de-lijk-heid. Longer compound, but shares the -heid suffix. Stress on the antepenultimate syllable.

The differences in stress placement are due to the varying length and complexity of the root and compound elements. "gelegenheidskoortje" has a shorter root and a more prominent compound element ("koortje"), leading to stress on that element.

10. Division Rules:

  • Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters like 'sch' are kept together as onsets.
  • Vowel Nucleus: Each syllable must have a vowel nucleus. Diphthongs like 'ei' function as a single nucleus.
  • Sonority Sequencing: Syllable boundaries generally avoid breaking up sonority sequences.
  • Compound Word Syllabification: Compound words are syllabified as if they were separate words joined together.

11. Special Considerations:

The 'g' at the beginning of 'gelegenheid' is a soft 'g' /ɣ/, which can be challenging for non-native speakers. The diminutive suffix '-je' is very common and often creates a separate syllable.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist, but they don't significantly alter the syllable division. Some speakers might slightly reduce the schwa /ə/ in unstressed syllables.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/11/2025

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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.