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Hyphenation ofhersenvliesontstekingen

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

her-sen-vlies-ont-ste-kin-gen

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

/ɦɛrˈsɛnvliːsɔntˈstɛkɪŋə(n)/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0001011

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable 'ont-'. The stress pattern is typical for Dutch compound nouns.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

her/ɦɛr/

Open syllable, vowel nucleus 'e'

sen/sɛn/

Open syllable, vowel nucleus 'e'

vlies/vliːs/

Open syllable, vowel nucleus 'ie'

ont/ɔnt/

Open syllable, vowel nucleus 'o'

ste/stɛ/

Closed syllable, vowel nucleus 'e'

kin/kɪn/

Open syllable, vowel nucleus 'i'

gen/ɣə(n)/

Open syllable, schwa vowel

Morphemic Breakdown

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

ont-(prefix)
+
hersenen, vlies, stek(root)
+
-ing-en(suffix)

Prefix: ont-

Germanic origin, indicates a process or state (un-, dis-)

Root: hersenen, vlies, stek

Germanic origins; 'hersenen' (brain), 'vlies' (membrane), 'stek' (stick, pierce)

Suffix: -ing-en

Germanic origin, '-ing' forms a noun from a verb, '-en' is a plural marker/nominalizer

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Inflammation of the meninges (membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord).

Translation: Meningitis

Examples:

"De patiënt is opgenomen in het ziekenhuis met hersenvliesontstekingen."

"Hersenvliesontstekingen kan zeer ernstig zijn."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

voetbalwedstrijdenvoe-tbal-wed-strij-den

Compound word structure, similar stress pattern.

televisieprogrammate-le-vi-sie-pro-gram-ma

Compound word structure, multiple syllables.

computertechnologiecom-pu-ter-tech-no-lo-gie

Compound word structure, stress shifting based on component words.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Nucleus Rule

Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei. Each syllable must contain at least one vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are generally maintained within a syllable unless they are easily separable or disrupt the natural flow of pronunciation.

Special Considerations

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

Schwa reduction in unstressed syllables.

Potential regional variations in vowel pronunciation.

The final '-en' can be elided in informal speech.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'hersenvliesontstekingen' is a complex Dutch noun meaning 'meningitis'. It's divided into seven syllables (her-sen-vlies-ont-ste-kin-gen) with primary stress on the penultimate syllable. It's a compound word built from Germanic roots and suffixes, following standard Dutch syllabification rules prioritizing vowel nuclei and maintaining consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "hersenvliesontstekingen" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "hersenvliesontstekingen" is a complex Dutch noun meaning "meningitis." It's a compound word built from several morphemes. Pronunciation involves a series of vowel and consonant clusters typical of Dutch, with a tendency towards reduced vowels in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid splitting diphthongs or consonant clusters where possible, the division is as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • hersenen (brain) - Root. Germanic origin.
  • vlies (membrane) - Root. Germanic origin.
  • ont- (un-, dis-) - Prefix. Germanic origin, indicating a process or state.
  • -stek- (stick, pierce) - Root. Germanic origin, related to inflammation.
  • -ing- (ing-form) - Suffix. Germanic origin, forming a noun from a verb.
  • -en (plural marker/nominalizer) - Suffix. Germanic origin.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: "ont-ste-kin-gen".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɦɛrˈsɛnvliːsɔntˈstɛkɪŋə(n)/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

  • her-: /ɦɛr/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei. No consonant clusters are broken.
  • sen-: /sɛn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei.
  • vlies-: /vliːs/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei.
  • ont-: /ɔnt/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei.
  • ste-: /stɛ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei. The 'st' cluster remains intact.
  • kin-: /kɪn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei.
  • gen-: /ɣə(n)/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel nuclei. Schwa vowel is common in unstressed syllables.

7. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for some flexibility in syllable division, particularly with consonant clusters. However, breaking up the 'st' cluster in "ste-" would be unusual and phonetically less natural. The schwa vowel in "gen-" is often reduced or elided in rapid speech.

8. Grammatical Role:

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

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: hersenvliesontstekingen
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Definitions:
    • "Inflammation of the meninges (membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord)."
    • "Meningitis"
  • Translation: Meningitis
  • Synonyms: hersenvliesontsteking (singular form), meningitis
  • Antonyms: (None directly applicable - it's a disease)
  • Examples:
    • "De patiënt is opgenomen in het ziekenhuis met hersenvliesontstekingen." (The patient was admitted to the hospital with meningitis.)
    • "Hersenvliesontstekingen kan zeer ernstig zijn." (Meningitis can be very serious.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist in Dutch. The /ɛ/ in "her-" might be slightly more open in some dialects. The final -en can be pronounced as -ə(n) or dropped entirely in informal speech. These variations don't significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • voetbalwedstrijden (football matches): voe-tbal-wed-strij-den. Similar structure with compound words and stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • televisieprogramma (television program): te-le-vi-sie-pro-gram-ma. Similar compound structure, but with more syllables.
  • computertechnologie (computer technology): com-pu-ter-tech-no-lo-gie. Similar compound structure, with stress shifting based on the component words.

The differences in syllable division arise from the varying lengths and complexities of the compound words. "hersenvliesontstekingen" has a more complex internal structure, leading to a longer sequence of syllables.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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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.