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Hyphenation oftandvleesontsteking

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

tand-vlees-ont-ste-king

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

/ˈtɑndvleːzɔntˈstɛkɪŋ/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

01001

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('ont'). The stress pattern is typical for Dutch compound nouns.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

tand/tɑnd/

Open syllable, onset consonant 't', vowel 'a', coda consonant 'nd'.

vlees/vleːs/

Open syllable, onset consonant 'v', long vowel 'ee', coda consonant 's'.

ont/ɔnt/

Open syllable, onset consonant 'o', vowel 'o', coda consonant 'nt'.

ste/stɛ/

Open syllable, onset consonant cluster 'st', vowel 'e'.

king/kɪŋ/

Closed syllable, onset consonant 'k', vowel 'i', coda consonant cluster 'ng'.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

ont(prefix)
+
tandvlees(root)
+
steking(suffix)

Prefix: ont

Dutch prefix meaning 'un-', 'dis-', or 'beginning of'. Derived from Proto-Germanic *und-*.

Root: tandvlees

Dutch compound root meaning 'tooth flesh' or 'gums'.

Suffix: steking

Dutch suffix derived from 'steken' (to sting, prick), forming a noun indicating a process or condition.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Inflammation of the gums around the teeth.

Translation: Gingivitis

Examples:

"Hij heeft een ernstige tandvleesontsteking."

"Regelmatig poetsen voorkomt tandvleesontsteking."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

handdoekhan-doek

Similar vowel structure and stress pattern, but simpler consonant clusters.

voetbalwedstrijdvoet-bal-wed-strijd

Longer compound noun, demonstrating similar stress patterns on the penultimate syllable.

bloedsomloopbloed-som-loop

Another compound noun with a similar structure and stress pattern.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Dutch prefers to maximize the onset of a syllable (consonants at the beginning) whenever possible.

Vowel Break

Syllables are generally divided around vowels.

Consonant Cluster Rule

Permissible consonant clusters remain within a syllable.

Stress-Timing

Stress influences perceived syllable boundaries.

Special Considerations

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

The 'vlees' portion can sometimes be pronounced with a slightly reduced vowel in rapid speech, but this doesn't affect the syllabification.

Regional variations in pronunciation might exist, but the core syllabification remains consistent.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'tandvleesontsteking' is a Dutch compound noun meaning 'gingivitis'. It is divided into five syllables: tand-vlees-ont-ste-king, with primary stress on 'ont'. The syllabification follows Dutch rules of onset maximization, vowel break, and consonant cluster preservation. It consists of the roots 'tand' (tooth) and 'vlees' (gum), the prefix 'ont-' (beginning of), and the suffix '-steking' (inflammation).

Detailed Analysis:

Dutch Word Analysis: tandvleesontsteking

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "tandvleesontsteking" (tooth gum inflammation) is a compound noun in Dutch. Its pronunciation involves a sequence of consonant clusters and vowel sounds typical of the language.

2. Syllable Division:

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

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • tand - Root: Dutch, meaning "tooth".
  • vlees - Root: Dutch, meaning "flesh" or "gum".
  • ont- - Prefix: Dutch, derived from "ont-" meaning "un-", "dis-", or indicating a process of becoming free from something. In this context, it signifies the beginning of inflammation.
  • -steking - Suffix: Dutch, derived from "steken" (to sting, prick) and forming a noun indicating a process or condition. It denotes the inflammation itself.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: "ont-ste-king".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈtɑndvleːzɔntˈstɛkɪŋ/

6. Edge Case Review:

Dutch allows for complex consonant clusters, and the word contains several. Syllabification must account for these without breaking up permissible clusters.

7. Grammatical Role:

"tandvleesontsteking" functions solely as a noun. There are no shifts in syllabification or stress based on grammatical function.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Inflammation of the gums around the teeth.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (de tandvleesontsteking)
  • Translation: Gingivitis
  • Synonyms: tandvleesirritatie (gum irritation), parodontitis (periodontitis - more severe)
  • Antonyms: gezond tandvlees (healthy gums)
  • Examples:
    • "Hij heeft een ernstige tandvleesontsteking." (He has a severe gingivitis.)
    • "Regelmatig poetsen voorkomt tandvleesontsteking." (Regular brushing prevents gingivitis.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • handdoek (towel): hɑnˈduk - Similar vowel structure, but simpler consonant clusters.
  • voetbalwedstrijd (football match): ˈvoːtbalwɛdˈstrɛit - Longer compound noun, demonstrating similar stress patterns on the penultimate syllable.
  • bloedsomloop (blood circulation): ˈbluːdzɔmˈloːp - Another compound noun with a similar structure and stress pattern.

The differences in syllable division arise from the varying complexity of consonant clusters and the length of the compound words. "tandvleesontsteking" has more complex clusters than "handdoek" and is longer than all three examples, influencing the number of syllables.

10. Division Rules:

  • Onset Maximization: Dutch prefers to maximize the onset of a syllable (consonants at the beginning).
  • Vowel Break: Syllables are generally divided around vowels.
  • Consonant Cluster Rule: Permissible consonant clusters remain within a syllable.
  • Stress-Timing: Stress influences perceived syllable boundaries.

11. Special Considerations:

The "vlees" portion can sometimes be pronounced with a slightly reduced vowel in rapid speech, but this doesn't affect the syllabification. Regional variations in pronunciation might exist, but the core syllabification remains consistent.

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

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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.