Hyphenation ofonmaatschappelijkheid

Linguistic Analysis of "onmaatschappelijkheid" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "onmaatschappelijkheid" is a complex Dutch noun. It's formed through extensive prefixation and suffixation. Pronunciation involves a relatively standard Dutch vowel and consonant inventory, but the length and stress placement are crucial.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, the word breaks down as follows (using only original letters):

on-maat-schap-pe-lijk-heid

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: on- (Dutch, negative prefix, equivalent to "un-" or "in-" in English).
• Root: maatschappij- (Dutch, "society," derived from Middle Dutch maetschappie, ultimately from Old French meschappie meaning "household, company").
• Suffixes:
  • -schap (Dutch, nominalizing suffix, forming nouns denoting a state, quality, or collective).
  • -pe- (Dutch, linking element, often used before suffixes like -lijk).
  • -lijk (Dutch, adjectival suffix, forming adjectives meaning "like," "characteristic of," or "relating to").
  • -heid (Dutch, nominalizing suffix, forming abstract nouns denoting a state or quality).

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable: schap.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ɔn.maːt.sχɑp.pə.lɛik.hɛit/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch syllabification generally follows the principle of maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable). However, the sequence "sch" is treated as a single phoneme /sx/ and thus forms a single onset. The linking element "-pe-" is a common feature in Dutch morphology and doesn't typically create separate syllables on its own.

7. Grammatical Role:

"Onmaatschappelijkheid" functions exclusively as a noun. The syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The state or quality of being unsociable, antisocial behavior, or a lack of social responsibility.
• Grammatical Category: Noun
• Translation: Unsociability, antisociality
• Synonyms: asociaal gedrag (antisocial behavior), ongezelligheid (unfriendliness)
• Antonyms: sociaal gedrag (social behavior), gezelligheid (friendliness)
• Examples:
  • "Zijn onmaatschappelijkheid was een bron van zorg voor zijn familie." (His unsociability was a source of concern for his family.)
  • "De overheid probeert onmaatschappelijkheid te bestrijden." (The government is trying to combat antisocial behavior.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• Maatschappij: /maːt.sχɑp.ɛi/ - Syllables: maa-t-schap-pei. Similar structure, highlighting the maatschapp- root.
• Vriendschappelijk: /vriːnt.sxɑp.pə.lɛik/ - Syllables: vrien-dschap-pe-lijk. Demonstrates the consistent use of -schap- and -lijk suffixes.
• Eenzaamheid: /ɛn.zaːm.hɛit/ - Syllables: en-zaam-heid. Shows a simpler structure with a single suffix, but illustrates the common -heid suffix.

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist in Dutch, but they don't significantly alter the syllabification. Some speakers might pronounce the /aː/ in maatschappij slightly differently, but the syllable boundaries remain the same.

11. Division Rules:

• Maximizing Onsets: Consonant clusters are kept together at the beginning of syllables whenever possible (e.g., maat-).
• Vowel Grouping: Each vowel sound generally forms the nucleus of a syllable.
• Suffix Separation: Suffixes are typically separated into distinct syllables (e.g., -lijk-, -heid-).
• Linking Elements: Linking elements like -pe- are treated as part of the preceding or following syllable.

Special Considerations:

The length of the vowel /aː/ in maat- is important for pronunciation and distinguishes it from shorter /a/ vowels. The "sch" digraph is treated as a single unit.