Hyphenation ofmeerderheidsstemming

Linguistic Analysis of "meerderheidsstemming" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "meerderheidsstemming" is a compound noun in Dutch, meaning "majority vote" or "mood of the majority." It's pronounced with a relatively even stress distribution, though the penultimate syllable receives slightly more emphasis.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and avoid splitting diphthongs or consonant clusters where possible, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

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.
• stemming: Derived from "stemmen" (to vote, to stem).
  • stem (voice, vote, stem) - Germanic origin.
  • -ming (noun-forming suffix, denoting action or result) - Germanic origin.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: der-heids-stem-ming. Dutch stress is generally penultimate, but compound words can have multiple stress points, with the main stress often on the first element of the compound.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈmeːrdərˌɦɛitsˈstɛmɪŋ/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for some flexibility in syllable division, particularly with consonant clusters. However, the proposed division adheres to the principle of maximizing onsets (consonant-vowel combinations).

7. Grammatical Role:

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

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The collective opinion or vote of the majority.
• Translation: Majority vote, mood of the majority.
• Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine).
• Synonyms: meerderheidsopinie (majority opinion), consensus.
• Antonyms: minderheidsstemming (minority vote).
• Examples:
  • "De meerderheidsstemming was duidelijk voor het wetsvoorstel." (The majority vote was clear for the bill.)
  • "De meerderheidsstemming in het dorp was tegen de nieuwe plannen." (The mood of the majority in the village was against the new plans.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• werkloosheid (unemployment): wer-kloos-heid. Similar structure with compound suffixes.
• rechtszaak (lawsuit): rechts-zaak. Demonstrates typical Dutch compound word syllabification.
• levensstandaard (standard of living): le-vens-stan-daard. Shows how vowel clusters can influence syllable boundaries.

The differences in syllable division arise from the specific vowel and consonant sequences within each word. "Meerderheidsstemming" has a longer sequence of vowels and consonants, requiring more complex division.

10. Division Rules:

• Rule 1: Vowel-Based Division: Syllables are generally formed around vowel sounds.
• Rule 2: Avoid Diphthong Splitting: Diphthongs (like 'ee' in 'meer') are kept within a single syllable.
• Rule 3: Consonant Cluster Handling: Consonant clusters are divided based on sonority (ease of articulation), favoring maximizing onsets.
• Rule 4: Compound Word Syllabification: Each component of a compound word is syllabified independently before being combined.

11. Special Considerations:

The 'rd' cluster in "meerder" can be challenging. However, Dutch generally treats 'rd' as a single onset, especially when followed by a vowel.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in pronunciation might affect the precise realization of vowels, but the core syllabification remains consistent. Some speakers might slightly reduce the vowel in "meerder," but this doesn't alter the syllable boundaries.