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Hyphenation ofmeerderheidsstelsel

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

meer-der-heids-stel-sel

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

/ˈmeːrdərɦɛitsˈstɛlsəl/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

01000

Primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable ('der').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

meer/meːr/

Open syllable, containing a long vowel. Unstressed.

der/dər/

Closed syllable, containing a schwa. Primary stressed syllable.

heids/hɛits/

Closed syllable, containing a short vowel. Unstressed.

stel/stɛl/

Open syllable, containing a short vowel. Unstressed.

sel/səl/

Closed syllable, containing a schwa. Unstressed.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

(prefix)
+
meerder- & stel-(root)
+
-heids- & -sel(suffix)

Prefix:

None

Root: meerder- & stel-

Germanic origin, related to 'more' and 'to set/establish'

Suffix: -heids- & -sel

Germanic origin, nominalizing suffixes

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A system in which a candidate or party wins an election by obtaining more than half of the votes.

Translation: Majority system

Examples:

"Het Nederlandse parlement werkt met een meerderheidsstelsel."

"Het meerderheidsstelsel kan leiden tot stabiele regeringen."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

waterspiegelwa-ter-spie-gel

Similar vowel-consonant clusters and stress pattern.

arbeidsmarktar-beids-markt

Similar consonant clusters and stress pattern.

levensstandaardle-vens-stan-daard

Demonstrates the tendency to keep consonant clusters together within a syllable.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Peak

Each syllable contains a vowel sound.

Consonant Cluster Preservation

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable.

Sonority Sequencing

Syllables follow a sonority hierarchy.

Special Considerations

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

The 'rd' cluster is treated as a single unit.

The 'ei' diphthong is a characteristic sound.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'meerderheidsstelsel' is a Dutch noun meaning 'majority system'. It is divided into five syllables: meer-der-heids-stel-sel, with primary stress on 'der'. The word is morphologically complex, consisting of roots and suffixes of Germanic origin. Syllabification follows standard Dutch rules, prioritizing vowel sounds and preserving consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "meerderheidsstelsel" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "meerderheidsstelsel" (majority system) is a complex noun in Dutch. Its pronunciation involves several consonant clusters and vowel sounds typical of the language. It's crucial to consider the schwa (ə) sound, common in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid breaking up consonant clusters where possible, the word is divided as follows (see JSON output for the orthographic representation).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • meerder-: Root, derived from "meer" (more) + "-der" (comparative suffix). Origin: Germanic. Function: Indicates 'majority'.
  • -heids-: Suffix, forming a noun from an adjective. Origin: Germanic. Function: Nominalization.
  • -stel-: Root, related to "stellen" (to set, to establish). Origin: Germanic. Function: Indicates 'system'.
  • -sel: Suffix, forming a noun. Origin: Germanic. Function: Nominalization.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable: der.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈmeːrdərɦɛitsˈstɛlsəl/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for some flexibility in pronouncing certain vowel combinations, but the core syllabification remains consistent. The 'rd' cluster is a common feature and is generally treated as a single unit within a syllable.

7. Grammatical Role:

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

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A system in which a candidate or party wins an election by obtaining more than half of the votes.
  • Translation: Majority system
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (de)
  • Synonyms: meerderheidsregering (majority government), winnend systeem (winning system)
  • Antonyms: minderheidsstelsel (minority system)
  • Examples:
    • "Het Nederlandse parlement werkt met een meerderheidsstelsel." (The Dutch parliament operates with a majority system.)
    • "Het meerderheidsstelsel kan leiden tot stabiele regeringen." (The majority system can lead to stable governments.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • 'waterspiegel' (/ˈwaːtərˌspiːɣəl/): Syllables: wa-ter-spie-gel. Similar structure with vowel-consonant clusters. Stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
  • 'arbeidsmarkt' (/ˈaːrˌbɛitsˌmaːrkt/): Syllables: ar-beids-markt. Similar consonant clusters and stress pattern.
  • 'levensstandaard' (/ˈleːvənsˌstaːnˌdaːrt/): Syllables: le-vens-stan-daard. Demonstrates the tendency to keep consonant clusters together within a syllable.

10. Division Rules:

  • Vowel Peak: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
  • Consonant Cluster Preservation: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are easily separable.
  • Sonority Sequencing: Syllables follow a sonority hierarchy, with sounds becoming more sonorous towards the syllable nucleus (vowel).
  • Schwa Reduction: Unstressed schwa sounds (ə) are common and don't necessarily dictate syllable boundaries.

11. Special Considerations:

The 'rd' cluster is a common feature in Dutch and is treated as a single unit within a syllable. The 'ei' diphthong is also a characteristic sound.

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

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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.