Hyphenation ofmeerderheidsbeginsel

Linguistic Analysis of "meerderheidsbeginsel" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "meerderheidsbeginsel" (majority principle) is a complex noun in Dutch. Its pronunciation involves several vowel and consonant clusters, typical of Dutch morphology. It's crucial to consider the schwa reduction common 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 (see JSON output for the orthographic representation).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• meerderheids-: Derived from "meerderheid" (majority).
  • meer (more) - Germanic origin.
  • -der (comparative suffix) - Germanic origin.
  • -heid (noun-forming suffix, denoting state or quality) - Germanic origin.
• -be-: Connecting vowel, often found in compound words. No independent morphemic meaning.
• -gin-: Root relating to 'begin' or 'principle'. Germanic origin.
• -sel: Noun-forming suffix, indicating a principle or rule. Germanic origin.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable: der-heids-be-gin-sel.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈmeːrdərɦɛitsbəɣɪnsəl/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for some flexibility in syllable division, particularly with consonant clusters. However, the division presented here adheres to the most common and phonologically justifiable pattern. The 'r' sound can be pronounced as an alveolar tap [ɾ] or a uvular fricative [ʁ], depending on the region.

7. Grammatical Role:

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

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The principle that decisions are made based on the preference of the majority.
• Translation: Majority principle
• Grammatical Category: Noun (het)
• Synonyms: meerderheidsregel (majority rule)
• Antonyms: eenheidsbeginsel (principle of unity), minderheidsrecht (minority right)
• Examples:
  • "Het meerderheidsbeginsel is een fundamenteel aspect van de democratie." (The majority principle is a fundamental aspect of democracy.)
  • "De beslissing werd genomen volgens het meerderheidsbeginsel." (The decision was made according to the majority principle.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• vrijheidsbeginsel (principle of freedom): vrij-heids-be-gin-sel. Similar structure, stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
• gelijkheidsbeginsel (principle of equality): ge-lijk-heids-be-gin-sel. Similar structure, stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
• rechtvaardigheidsbeginsel (principle of justice): recht-vaar-dig-heids-be-gin-sel. Longer, but maintains the stress pattern on the antepenultimate syllable and the "-beginsel" suffix.

10. Division Rules:

• Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters are generally kept together as onsets of syllables.
• Vowel Centering: Syllables are built around vowel sounds.
• Avoidance of Lone Consonants: Consonants are generally not left as the sole element of a syllable.

11. Special Considerations:

The schwa reduction in unstressed syllables (/ə/) is a key feature of Dutch pronunciation and influences the perceived length of syllables. Regional variations in the pronunciation of the 'g' and 'r' sounds can occur.