Hyphenation ofmedeverantwoordelijkheid

Linguistic Analysis of "medeverantwoordelijkheid" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "medeverantwoordelijkheid" is a complex Dutch noun meaning "co-responsibility." It's a compound word, built from several morphemes. Pronunciation involves a series of vowel and consonant clusters, typical of Dutch.

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:

• Prefix: mede- (Latin via Germanic) - "co-", "jointly". Function: Indicates shared or collective action.
• Root: verantwoord- (Germanic) - "responsible". Function: Core meaning of accountability.
• Suffix: -elijkheid (Dutch) - "-ity", "-ness". Function: Nominalizing suffix, turning the verb/adjective into a noun.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable: ver-.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/mɛdəvərˈɑntʋɔrdəlɪkhɛit/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

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

• me-: /mɛ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No exceptions.
• de-: /də/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No exceptions.
• ver-: /vər/ - Open syllable, stressed. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. Stress placement follows Dutch prosodic rules, favoring the antepenultimate syllable in longer words.
• ant-: /ˈɑnt/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters following a vowel form a syllable. No exceptions.
• woor-: /ˈʋɔr/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No exceptions.
• de-: /də/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No exceptions.
• lijk-: /lɪx/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters following a vowel form a syllable. No exceptions.
• heid: /hɛit/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around vowel sounds. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for some flexibility in syllabification, particularly with consonant clusters. However, the above division is the most common and phonologically justifiable.

8. Grammatical Role:

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

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Word: medeverantwoordelijkheid
• Part of Speech: Noun
• Definitions:
  • "Co-responsibility"
  • "Shared responsibility"
• Translation: Co-responsibility
• Synonyms: gezamenlijke verantwoordelijkheid, medeplichtigheid (depending on context)
• Antonyms: onafhankelijkheid, individuele verantwoordelijkheid
• Examples:
  • "Hij erkende zijn medeverantwoordelijkheid voor het falen van het project." (He acknowledged his co-responsibility for the failure of the project.)
  • "De medeverantwoordelijkheid van de ouders is cruciaal bij de opvoeding van kinderen." (The co-responsibility of parents is crucial in the upbringing of children.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist in Dutch, but they don't significantly alter the syllabification. Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in unstressed syllables.

11. Phonological Comparison:

• verantwoordelijkheid (responsibility): me-de-ver-ant-woor-de-lijk-heid. Similar structure, stress on ver-.
• verantwoordelijk (responsible): ver-ant-woor-de-lijk. Stress on ver-, similar syllable structure.
• onverantwoordelijk (irresponsible): on-ver-ant-woor-de-lijk. Stress on ver-, similar syllable structure.

The consistent stress pattern and syllable structure across these words demonstrate the regularity of Dutch syllabification rules. The addition of mede- in "medeverantwoordelijkheid" simply adds two initial syllables without altering the core pattern.