HyphenateIt

Hyphenation oftweedegeneratietalen

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

twee-de-ge-ne-ra-ti-ta-len

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

/ˈtʋeːdəˌɣɛnəraːtsiˈtaːlə(n)/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

10001100

Primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable ('tie').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

twee/tʋeː/

Open syllable (CV), vowel length.

de/də/

Open syllable (CV).

ge/ɣɛ/

Open syllable (CV).

ne/nə/

Open syllable (CV).

ra/raː/

Open syllable (CV), vowel length.

ti/ti/

Open syllable (CV).

ta/taː/

Open syllable (CV), vowel length.

len/lə(n)/

Closed syllable (CVC).

Morphemic Breakdown

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

twee-(prefix)
+
generatie-(root)
+
-talen(suffix)

Prefix: twee-

Germanic origin, numeral prefix.

Root: generatie-

Latin origin (*generatio*), denoting a group born and living during the same period.

Suffix: -talen

Germanic origin, plural marker for nouns denoting languages.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Languages spoken by people whose parents or grandparents immigrated to a country, but who were not born there themselves.

Translation: Second-generation languages

Examples:

"De tweedegeneratietalen in Nederland worden steeds belangrijker."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

watermeloenwa-ter-me-loen

Similar structure with multiple syllables and vowel clusters.

universiteitu-ni-ver-si-teit

Demonstrates stress on the penultimate syllable, like 'tweedegeneratietalen'

computerprogrammacom-pu-ter-pro-gram-ma

Shows how Dutch compounds are syllabified, breaking down into constituent parts.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Maximize Open Syllables (CV)

Dutch prefers syllables of the form consonant-vowel (CV).

Allow Closed Syllables (CVC)

Closed syllables (consonant-vowel-consonant) are permitted, but less preferred.

Avoid Breaking Consonant Clusters

Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are exceptionally difficult to pronounce.

Special Considerations

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

Vowel length is phonemically significant.

Final 'n' in 'len' can be elided.

Compound nature of the word requires careful morpheme boundary consideration.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

tweedegeneratietalen is a Dutch compound noun meaning 'second-generation languages'. It is syllabified as twee-de-ge-ne-ra-ti-ta-len, with stress on the penultimate syllable. Syllabification follows Dutch rules favoring open syllables and avoiding breaking up consonant clusters.

Detailed Analysis:

Linguistic Analysis of "tweedegeneratietalen" (Dutch)

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "tweedegeneratietalen" refers to "second-generation languages." It's a compound noun, common in Dutch, built from multiple morphemes. Pronunciation involves a relatively straightforward application of Dutch phonological rules, with attention to vowel quality and consonant clusters.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Dutch syllabification rules, which generally favor open syllables (CV) and avoid breaking up consonant clusters unless absolutely necessary, the division is as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • Prefix: twee- (two) - Germanic origin, numeral prefix.
  • Root: generatie- (generation) - Latin origin (generatio), denoting a group born and living during the same period.
  • Suffix: -talen (languages) - Germanic origin, plural marker for nouns denoting languages.

4. Stress Identification:

Dutch stress is generally on the penultimate syllable (second to last). In this case, the primary stress falls on tie.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈtʋeːdəˌɣɛnəraːtsiˈtaːlə(n)/

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) and avoiding syllable-final consonant clusters where possible.

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:

  • Definition: Languages spoken by people whose parents or grandparents immigrated to a country, but who were not born there themselves.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (plural)
  • Translation: Second-generation languages
  • Synonyms: Immigrant languages, heritage languages
  • Examples:
    • "De tweedegeneratietalen in Nederland worden steeds belangrijker." (Second-generation languages in the Netherlands are becoming increasingly important.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • "watermeloen" (watermelon): wa-ter-me-loen. Similar structure with multiple syllables and vowel clusters.
  • "universiteit" (university): u-ni-ver-si-teit. Demonstrates stress on the penultimate syllable, like "tweedegeneratietalen".
  • "computerprogramma" (computer program): com-pu-ter-pro-gram-ma. Shows how Dutch compounds are syllabified, breaking down into constituent parts.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown & Rules:

Syllable IPA Transcription Description Rule Applied Exceptions/Special Cases
twee /tʋeː/ Open syllable (CV), vowel length Rule 1: Maximize open syllables. Vowel length is common in Dutch.
de /də/ Open syllable (CV) Rule 1: Maximize open syllables. Schwa sound is common in unstressed syllables.
ge /ɣɛ/ Open syllable (CV) Rule 1: Maximize open syllables.
ne /nə/ Open syllable (CV) Rule 1: Maximize open syllables.
ra /raː/ Open syllable (CV), vowel length Rule 1: Maximize open syllables. Vowel length is common in Dutch.
ti /ti/ Open syllable (CV) Rule 1: Maximize open syllables.
ta /taː/ Open syllable (CV), vowel length Rule 1: Maximize open syllables. Vowel length is common in Dutch.
len /lə(n)/ Closed syllable (CVC) Rule 2: Allow closed syllables when necessary. The final 'n' can be elided in rapid speech.

Rules Applied:

  • Rule 1: Maximize Open Syllables (CV): Dutch prefers syllables of the form consonant-vowel (CV).
  • Rule 2: Allow Closed Syllables (CVC): Closed syllables (consonant-vowel-consonant) are permitted, but less preferred.
  • Rule 3: Avoid Breaking Consonant Clusters: Consonant clusters are generally kept together within a syllable unless they are exceptionally difficult to pronounce.

Special Considerations:

  • The vowel length in "twee," "ra," and "ta" is phonemically significant in Dutch and must be represented in the IPA transcription.
  • The final 'n' in "len" can be reduced or elided in rapid speech, but it is still present in the underlying representation.
  • The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of morpheme boundaries during syllabification.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist in Dutch, but they do not significantly alter the syllable division.

Short Analysis:

"tweedegeneratietalen" is a Dutch compound noun meaning "second-generation languages." It is syllabified as twee-de-ge-ne-ra-ti-ta-len, with stress on the penultimate syllable. The word is built from the morphemes twee- (two), generatie- (generation), and -talen (languages). Syllabification follows Dutch rules favoring open syllables and avoiding breaking up consonant clusters.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/8/2025

The hottest word splits in Dutch

See what terms are trending and getting hyphenated by users right now.

  • ic-infrastructuur
  • abdiceer
  • Abchazië
  • abcessen
  • Abbekerk
  • abc-boek
  • Abbeweer
  • abubakar
  • abrikoos
  • abattoir
  • absoute
  • abdellah
  • abdullah
  • abdallah
  • absurds
  • absurde
  • abusief
  • abuizen
  • absente
  • absence

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.