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Hyphenation ofselffulfilling prophecy

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

sel-fu-fil-ling-pro-fe-si

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

/ˈsɛlfʏlˌfɪlɪŋ proˈfɛsi/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

1000100

Primary stress on the first syllable of 'self' and 'prophecy'. Secondary stress is minimal.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

sel/sɛl/

Open syllable, onset 's', rime 'el'

fu/fʏ/

Closed syllable, onset 'f', rime 'u'

fil/fɪl/

Closed syllable, onset 'f', rime 'il'

ling/lɪŋ/

Closed syllable, onset 'l', rime 'ing'

pro/pro/

Open syllable, onset 'pr', rime 'o'

fe/fɛ/

Open syllable, onset 'f', rime 'e'

si/si/

Open syllable, onset 's', rime 'i

Morphemic Breakdown

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

self(prefix)
+
fulfill(root)
+
-ing(suffix)

Prefix: self

English origin, Germanic root meaning 'one's own', compounding element

Root: fulfill

English origin, Germanic root meaning 'to satisfy or realize', compounding element

Suffix: -ing

English origin, gerund/present participle marker, compounding element

Meanings & Definitions
noun phrase(grammatical role in sentences)

A prediction about the future that, by being made, actually causes the future to happen.

Translation: Zelfvervullende voorspelling

Examples:

"De angst voor een recessie kan een zelfvervullende voorspelling worden."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

zelfvertrouwenzelf-ver-trouw-en

Similar structure with compounding and vowel-consonant patterns.

vervullingver-vul-ling

Similar vowel-consonant patterns and ending with '-ing'.

voorspellingvoor-spel-ling

Similar ending with '-ing' and vowel-consonant structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Peak Principle

Each syllable must contain a vowel sound. Syllable division occurs around each vowel.

Onset-Rime Division

Syllables are divided into an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a rime (vowel and any following consonants).

Special Considerations

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

The compound nature of the phrase.

The adaptation of English words into Dutch.

The 'lf' cluster in 'ful' is a common cluster in Dutch and not broken up.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The phrase 'selffulfilling prophecy' is divided into seven syllables based on the vowel peak principle and onset-rime division. The primary stress falls on the first syllable of 'self' and 'prophecy'. The word's English origin and compound structure present some complexities, but the syllabification aligns with Dutch phonological rules.

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Syllable Analysis: "selffulfilling prophecy"

This is a complex case due to the English origin and compound nature of the phrase, adapted into Dutch. Dutch syllabification prioritizes vowel sounds and follows onsets and codas. Dutch generally avoids syllable-initial consonant clusters unless they are common.

1. IPA Transcription:

/ˈsɛlfʏlˌfɪlɪŋ proˈfɛsi/

2. Morphemic Breakdown:

  • Prefix: self- (English origin, Germanic root meaning "one's own") - functions as a compounding element.
  • Root: fulfill (English origin, Germanic root meaning "to satisfy or realize") - functions as a compounding element.
  • Suffix: -ing (English origin, gerund/present participle marker) - functions as a compounding element.
  • Root: prophecy (English origin, from Latin prophetia, Greek propheteia meaning "foretelling") - functions as the core noun.

3. Stressed Syllables:

The primary stress falls on the first syllable of "prophecy" (/ˈpro/) and a secondary stress on "self" (/ˈsɛlf/).

4. Syllables List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

  • sel: /sɛl/ - Open syllable. Syllable division occurs before the 'f' as it begins a new onset. Rule: Onset-Rime division.
  • fu: /fʏ/ - Closed syllable. Syllable division occurs after the 'u' as it is a vowel. Rule: Vowel Peak Principle.
  • fil: /fɪl/ - Closed syllable. Syllable division occurs after the 'i' as it is a vowel. Rule: Vowel Peak Principle.
  • ling: /lɪŋ/ - Closed syllable. Syllable division occurs after the 'i' as it is a vowel. Rule: Vowel Peak Principle.
  • pro: /pro/ - Open syllable. Syllable division occurs before the 'f' as it begins a new onset. Rule: Onset-Rime division.
  • fe: /fɛ/ - Open syllable. Syllable division occurs after the 'e' as it is a vowel. Rule: Vowel Peak Principle.
  • si: /si/ - Open syllable. Syllable division occurs after the 'i' as it is a vowel. Rule: Vowel Peak Principle.

5. Syllable Division Rules Applied:

  • Vowel Peak Principle: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound. Syllable division occurs around each vowel.
  • Onset-Rime Division: Syllables are divided into an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a rime (vowel and any following consonants).
  • Sonority Sequencing Principle: Consonant clusters are broken down based on sonority (loudness).

6. Exceptions/Special Cases per Syllable:

  • The 'lf' cluster in "ful" is a relatively common cluster in Dutch, so it's not broken up.
  • The English origin of the word means some syllable divisions might not perfectly align with typical Dutch patterns, but the Dutch pronunciation dictates the syllabification.

7. Exceptions/Special Cases for the Word as a Whole:

  • The compound nature of the phrase makes it longer and more complex than typical Dutch words.
  • The adaptation of English words into Dutch often leads to slight adjustments in pronunciation and syllabification.

8. Grammatical Role & Syllabification Shifts:

The phrase functions as a noun phrase. If "prophecy" were used as a verb (though rare in this context), the stress would remain on the first syllable, and the syllabification would not significantly change.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Part of Speech: Noun Phrase
  • Definitions:
    • A prediction about the future that, by being made, actually causes the future to happen.
    • Translation: Zelfvervullende voorspelling
    • Synonyms: Vooruitziende blik, voorspelling die uitkomt
    • Antonyms: Onjuiste voorspelling, misrekening
    • Examples: "De angst voor een recessie kan een zelfvervullende voorspelling worden." (The fear of a recession can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in Dutch pronunciation might affect the vowel quality (e.g., the 'e' in "sel" could be more open or closed). However, the core syllable division would likely remain consistent.

11. Similar Words Comparison:

  • zelfvertrouwen (self-confidence): zelf-ver-trouw-en. Similar structure with compounding.
  • vervulling (fulfillment): ver-vul-ling. Similar vowel-consonant patterns.
  • voorspelling (prediction): voor-spel-ling. Similar ending with "-ing" and vowel-consonant structure.

The syllable divisions are consistent with the vowel peak principle and onset-rime division. The differences arise from the specific consonant clusters and vowel qualities within each word.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/7/2025

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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.