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Hyphenation ofhoogspanningsdraden

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

hoog-span-nings-dra-den

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

/hoːxˈspɑnɪŋsˌdraːdə(n)/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

01100

Primary stress falls on the second syllable ('span-'). The other syllables are unstressed or receive secondary stress.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

hoog/hoːx/

Open syllable, long vowel /oː/, stressed in some pronunciations but generally unstressed in compounds.

span/spɑn/

Closed syllable, primary stress, contains a consonant cluster.

nings/nɪŋs/

Closed syllable, contains a complex consonant cluster 'ngs'.

dra/draː/

Open syllable, long vowel /aː/.

den/də(n)/

Closed syllable, reduced vowel /ə/, plural suffix.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

hoog(prefix)
+
spanning(root)
+
en(suffix)

Prefix: hoog

Old Dutch origin, meaning 'high', intensifier.

Root: spanning

Dutch origin, relating to 'tension' or 'voltage'.

Suffix: en

Old Dutch origin, plural suffix for nouns.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Wires used for transmitting electricity at high voltage.

Translation: High-voltage wires

Examples:

"De hoogspanningsdraden waren zichtbaar vanaf de heuvel."

"Er is een storing in de hoogspanningsdraden."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

voetballersvoe-tbal-lers

Similar syllable structure with consonant clusters and penultimate stress.

computerprogramma'scom-pu-ter-pro-gram-ma's

Longer compound noun, but follows the same stress pattern and syllable division principles.

telefoonnummerte-le-foon-num-mer

Demonstrates the tendency to avoid breaking up consonant clusters within morphemes.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Consonants are assigned to the following vowel whenever possible to maximize syllable onsets.

Avoidance of Single-Letter Syllables

Dutch generally avoids syllables consisting of a single vowel.

Penultimate Stress

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable in most Dutch words.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are exceptionally difficult to pronounce.

Special Considerations

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

The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of morpheme boundaries.

The final '-en' is often reduced to a schwa /ə(n)/ in rapid speech.

Regional variations in pronunciation may affect stress placement slightly.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'hoogspanningsdraden' is a Dutch compound noun meaning 'high-voltage wires'. It is divided into five syllables: hoog-span-nings-dra-den, with primary stress on 'span-'. The syllabification follows Dutch rules of onset maximization, avoidance of single-letter syllables, and penultimate stress. The word consists of the prefix 'hoog-', the root 'spanning', and the suffix '-en'.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: hoogspanningsdraden

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "hoogspanningsdraden" (high-voltage wires) is a compound noun in Dutch. Its pronunciation involves a mix of long and short vowels, and consonant clusters. The 'g' is a voiced velar fricative /ɣ/.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which generally favor open syllables (CV) and avoid breaking up consonant clusters unless absolutely necessary, the word divides as follows (see JSON output for the orthographic representation).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • hoog-: Adjective prefix meaning "high". Origin: Old Dutch. Function: Intensifier.
  • spannings-: Root relating to "tension" or "voltage". Origin: Dutch "spanning" (tension). Function: Core meaning.
  • dra-: Root relating to "wire". Origin: Dutch "draad" (wire). Function: Core meaning.
  • -en: Plural suffix for nouns. Origin: Old Dutch. Function: Indicates plurality.

4. Stress Identification:

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

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/hoːxˈspɑnɪŋsˌdraːdə(n)/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for some flexibility in syllable division, particularly with consonant clusters. However, breaking up the "ngs" cluster would be unusual and less natural. The final "-en" is often reduced to a schwa /ə(n)/ in rapid speech.

7. Grammatical Role:

"hoogspanningsdraden" functions solely as a noun (plural). The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: High-voltage wires; wires used for transmitting electricity at high voltage.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (plural)
  • Translation: High-voltage wires
  • Synonyms: hoogspanningskabels (high-voltage cables)
  • Antonyms: laagspanningsdraden (low-voltage wires)
  • Examples:
    • "De hoogspanningsdraden waren zichtbaar vanaf de heuvel." (The high-voltage wires were visible from the hill.)
    • "Er is een storing in de hoogspanningsdraden." (There is a fault in the high-voltage wires.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • voetballers (football players): voe-tbal-lers. Similar syllable structure with consonant clusters. Stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • computerprogramma's (computer programs): com-pu-ter-pro-gram-ma's. Longer compound noun, but follows the same stress pattern and syllable division principles.
  • telefoonnummer (telephone number): te-le-foon-num-mer. Demonstrates the tendency to avoid breaking up consonant clusters within morphemes.

10. Division Rules:

  • Onset Maximization: Dutch prefers to maximize the onsets of syllables, meaning consonants are assigned to the following vowel whenever possible.
  • Avoidance of Single-Letter Syllables: Dutch generally avoids syllables consisting of a single vowel.
  • Penultimate Stress: Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable in most Dutch words.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are exceptionally difficult to pronounce.

11. Special Considerations:

The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of morpheme boundaries. While theoretically possible to divide "spanning" into "span-ning", it's more natural to treat it as a single unit due to its frequent co-occurrence.

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

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of dividing words across lines in print or on websites. It involves inserting hyphens (-) where a word breaks to continue on the next line.

Proper hyphenation improves readability by reducing the unevenness of word spacing and unnecessary large gaps. It also helps avoid confusion that may occur when part of a word carries over. Ideal hyphenation should break words according to pronunciation and syllables. Most word processors and publishing apps have automated tools to handle hyphenation effectively based on language rules and dictionaries. Though subtle, proper hyphenation improves overall typography and reading comfort.