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Hyphenation ofkarakterbeschrijving

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ka-rak-ter-be-schrij-ving

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

/ˈka.rɑk.tər.bə.sxrɛi.vɪŋ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

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Primary stress falls on the final syllable ('ving'). Dutch compound words often have stress on the penultimate syllable of the second component.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

ka/ka/

Open syllable (CV), unstressed.

rak/rɑk/

Closed syllable (CVC), unstressed.

ter/tər/

Open syllable (CV), unstressed.

be/bə/

Open syllable (CV), unstressed.

schrij/sxrɛi/

Complex syllable, containing a digraph, unstressed.

ving/vɪŋ/

Closed syllable (CVC), stressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

be-(prefix)
+
karakter(root)
+
beschrijving(suffix)

Prefix: be-

Dutch prefix indicating action or state, Germanic origin.

Root: karakter

Greek via Latin, meaning 'character'.

Suffix: beschrijving

Dutch suffix derived from 'beschrijven' (to describe), nominalizing function.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A detailed account of someone's personality, qualities, or characteristics.

Translation: character description

Examples:

"De karakterbeschrijving van de hoofdpersoon was erg gedetailleerd."

"Hij gaf een nauwkeurige karakterbeschrijving van zijn collega."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

voorbeeldvoor-beeld

Similar syllable structure and stress pattern.

telefoonnummerte-le-foon-num-mer

Demonstrates compound word formation and syllabification principles.

werkloosheidwerk-loos-heid

Illustrates suffixation and stress placement in Dutch.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Preference

Dutch favors open syllables (CV) whenever possible.

Consonant Cluster Maintenance

Consonant clusters are generally maintained unless they are exceptionally complex.

Digraph Treatment

Digraphs like 'sch' are treated as single units for syllabification.

Special Considerations

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

The compound nature of the word influences stress placement.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation may exist but do not affect syllabification.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'karakterbeschrijving' is a compound noun syllabified into six syllables: ka-rak-ter-be-schrij-ving. Stress falls on the final syllable. It's morphologically composed of the prefix 'be-', the root 'karakter', and the suffix 'beschrijving'. Syllabification follows Dutch rules favoring open syllables and maintaining consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: karakterbeschrijving

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "karakterbeschrijving" (character description) is a compound noun in Dutch. It's pronounced with a relatively even stress distribution, though the final syllable receives slightly more emphasis. The 'sch' is pronounced as /sx/, and the 'ij' as /ɛi/.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which generally favor open syllables (CV) and avoid breaking up consonant clusters unless they are complex, the division is as follows (using only original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: be- (Dutch, prefix indicating action or state, often derived from Germanic roots)
  • Root: karakter (Greek via Latin, meaning 'character', 'mark', 'distinctive quality')
  • Suffix: -beschrijving (Dutch, derived from beschrijven 'to describe', consisting of be- + schrijf (write) + -ing (nominalizing suffix))

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: be-schrij-ving. While Dutch stress is often on the first syllable of a word, compound words like this often have stress on the penultimate syllable of the second component.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈka.rɑk.tər.bə.sxrɛi.vɪŋ/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

  • ka-: /ka/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. No exceptions.
  • -rak-: /rɑk/ - Closed syllable (CVC). Rule: Consonant clusters are maintained unless they are exceptionally complex. No exceptions.
  • -ter: /tər/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. No exceptions.
  • -be-: /bə/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Dutch prefers open syllables. No exceptions.
  • -schrij-: /sxrɛi/ - Complex syllable, but treated as a unit due to the 'sch' digraph. Rule: Digraphs are treated as single units. Potential exception: Some speakers might slightly separate the 'sch' sound.
  • -ving: /vɪŋ/ - Closed syllable (CVC). Rule: Consonant clusters are maintained. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

The 'sch' digraph is a common feature in Dutch and is generally treated as a single unit for syllabification. The compound nature of the word also influences stress placement.

8. Grammatical Role:

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

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: karakterbeschrijving
  • Translation: character description
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • Synonyms: karakterisering, beschrijving van karakter
  • Antonyms: (None directly applicable)
  • Examples:
    • "De karakterbeschrijving van de hoofdpersoon was erg gedetailleerd." (The character description of the main character was very detailed.)
    • "Hij gaf een nauwkeurige karakterbeschrijving van zijn collega." (He gave an accurate character description of his colleague.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in Dutch pronunciation exist, particularly concerning vowel sounds. However, these variations generally do not affect the syllabification. Some speakers might pronounce the 'r' as a uvular 'r' (/ʁ/), but this doesn't change the syllable structure.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • voorbeeld (example): vo-or-beeld - Similar syllable structure, stress on the penultimate syllable.
  • telefoonnummer (phone number): te-le-foon-num-mer - More syllables, but follows the same principle of maintaining consonant clusters and favoring open syllables.
  • werkloosheid (unemployment): werk-loos-heid - Demonstrates the use of suffixes and compound word formation, with stress on the penultimate syllable.

The differences in syllable count are due to the length and complexity of the words, but the underlying syllabification principles remain consistent.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/10/2025

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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.