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Hyphenation ofregenwaterafvoerpijpen

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

re-gen-wa-ter-af-voer-pij-pen

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

/ˈreːɣə(n)ˈʋaːtərˌɑfˈvoːrˌpɛi̯pə(n)/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

01011

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('pijp-'). Secondary stress is less pronounced on 're-' and 'af-'. 'wa-' and 'pen' are unstressed.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

re-gen/ˈreːɣə(n)/

Open syllable, stressed. 'e' can be reduced to schwa in rapid speech.

wa-ter/ˈʋaːtər/

Open syllable, unstressed. 'e' can be reduced to schwa.

af-voer/ˌɑfˈvoːr/

Open syllable, stressed. 'oe' is a diphthong.

pij-pen/ˌpɛi̯pə(n)/

Open syllable, stressed. 'ij' is a diphthong. 'e' can be reduced to schwa.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

(prefix)
+
regenwaterafvoerpijpen(root)
+
(suffix)

Prefix:

No prefix present.

Root: regenwaterafvoerpijpen

Compound noun formed from multiple roots.

Suffix:

No suffix present.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Pipes designed to carry rainwater away from a building.

Translation: Rainwater drainpipes

Examples:

"De regenwaterafvoerpijpen waren verstopt met bladeren."

"We moeten de regenwaterafvoerpijpen schoonmaken."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

zonnebloemzaadzon-ne-bloem-zaad

Compound noun structure, similar vowel patterns.

fietsenmakerijfiet-sen-ma-ke-rij

Compound noun structure, similar consonant-vowel alternation.

arbeidsvoorwaardenar-beids-voor-waar-den

Compound noun structure, similar stress pattern (penultimate syllable).

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Open Syllable Preference

Dutch favors creating open syllables (ending in a vowel) whenever possible. This influences the division between consonants and vowels.

Consonant Cluster Avoidance

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are easily separable based on pronunciation.

Penultimate Stress

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable of the word.

Special Considerations

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

Schwa reduction in unstressed syllables is common and can affect perceived syllable boundaries.

The compound nature of the word means each component retains its original pronunciation.

Regional variations in pronunciation might exist, particularly regarding vowel quality.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'regenwaterafvoerpijpen' is a Dutch compound noun divided into eight syllables: re-gen-wa-ter-af-voer-pij-pen. Primary stress falls on 'pijp-'. Syllabification follows Dutch rules favoring open syllables and avoiding breaking up consonant clusters. Schwa reduction is possible in unstressed syllables.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: regenwaterafvoerpijpen

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "regenwaterafvoerpijpen" is a compound noun in Dutch, meaning "rainwater drainpipes". It's a relatively long word, typical of Dutch, formed by concatenating several morphemes. Pronunciation involves a sequence of vowels and consonants, with potential for vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which generally favor open syllables (syllables ending in a vowel) and avoid breaking up consonant clusters where possible, the division is as follows (see JSON output for the orthographic representation).

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • regen-: Root. Origin: Germanic. Function: Relating to rain.
  • water-: Root. Origin: Germanic. Function: Relating to water.
  • afvoer-: Root. Origin: Germanic. Function: Drainage, removal.
  • pijpen: Root. Origin: Germanic. Function: Pipes.

4. Stress Identification:

Dutch stress is generally on the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable of the word. In this case, the primary stress falls on "-pijp-".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈreːɣə(n)ˈʋaːtərˌɑfˈvoːrˌpɛi̯pə(n)/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for schwa reduction (vowel reduction to /ə/ or even deletion) in unstressed syllables. This is particularly common with the 'e' vowel. The (n) in regenwater is often reduced or elided in rapid speech.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word is exclusively a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: regenwaterafvoerpijpen
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (plural)
  • English Translation: Rainwater drainpipes
  • Synonyms: (Less common, more descriptive phrases) "afvoerbuizen voor regenwater", "regenpijpen"
  • Antonyms: (Not directly applicable, as it's a concrete object)
  • Examples:
    • "De regenwaterafvoerpijpen waren verstopt met bladeren." (The rainwater drainpipes were clogged with leaves.)
    • "We moeten de regenwaterafvoerpijpen schoonmaken." (We need to clean the rainwater drainpipes.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • zonnebloemzaad (sunflower seeds): zon-ne-bloem-zaad. Similar structure of compound words. Stress on "bloem".
  • fietsenmakerij (bicycle repair shop): fiet-sen-ma-ke-rij. Similar compound structure. Stress on "ma".
  • arbeidsvoorwaarden (working conditions): ar-beids-voor-waar-den. Similar compound structure. Stress on "waar".

The differences in stress placement are due to the inherent stress patterns within each root and the overall length of the compound. Dutch generally favors penultimate stress, but the specific roots influence the perceived prominence.

10. Division Rules:

  • Rule 1: Open Syllable Preference: Dutch prefers to create open syllables (ending in a vowel) whenever possible. This is why "re-gen" is preferred over "reg-en".
  • Rule 2: Consonant Cluster Avoidance: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are easily separable based on pronunciation.
  • Rule 3: Penultimate Stress: The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable.

11. Special Considerations:

  • Schwa reduction in unstressed syllables is a common phenomenon and can affect the perceived syllable boundaries in rapid speech.
  • The compound nature of the word means that each component retains its original pronunciation to some extent, contributing to the overall length and complexity.
  • Regional variations in pronunciation might exist, particularly regarding vowel quality and schwa reduction.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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What is hyphenation

Hyphenation is the process of splitting words into syllables and inserting hyphens between them to facilitate the reading of a text. It is also used to divide words when the word cannot fit on a line.

This technique is particularly helpful in fully justified texts, where it aids in creating a uniform edge along both sides of a paragraph. Hyphenation rules vary among languages and even among different publications within the same language. It's a critical component in typesetting, significantly influencing the aesthetics and readability of printed and digital media. For instance, in compound adjectives like 'long-term solution', hyphens clarify relationships between words, preventing misinterpretation. Moreover, hyphenation can alter meanings: 'recreation' differs from 're-creation'.

With the advent of digital text, hyphenation algorithms have become more sophisticated, though still imperfect, sometimes requiring manual adjustment to ensure accuracy and coherence in text layout. Understanding and correctly applying hyphenation rules is therefore not only a matter of linguistic accuracy but also a key aspect of effective visual communication.