Hyphenation ofbarmhjertighetsdrap

Analysis of "barmhjertighetsdrap" (Norwegian Nynorsk)

This word is a compound noun meaning "killing out of pity" or "mercy killing". It's a relatively complex word, exhibiting several morphological layers.

1. IPA Transcription:

/ˈbɑrmˌhjærtɪɡhetsˌdrɑp/

2. Morphemic Breakdown:

• Prefix: bar- (Old Norse barr - 'bare, exposed'). Here, it functions as an intensifying prefix, though its original meaning is somewhat obscured in the modern compound.
• Root: hjarta (Old Norse hjarta - 'heart'). Meaning 'heart', representing compassion or feeling.
• Suffixes:
  • -m- (connecting vowel, common in Nynorsk compounds)
  • -hjertig (adjectival suffix, derived from hjarta - 'heart', meaning 'heartfelt, compassionate')
  • -hets- (suffix indicating a state or quality, related to 'intention' or 'attempt')
  • -drap (Old Norse dráp - 'killing, slaying'). The root denoting the act of killing.

3. Stressed Syllables:

The primary stress falls on the first syllable: bar-. Secondary stress is present on hjær- and dråp.

4. Syllables List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

• bar- /bɑr/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around a vowel. No consonant clusters prevent division here.
• m- /m/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel forms a syllable.
• hjær- /hjært/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel following a consonant forms a syllable.
• ti- /tɪ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel forms a syllable.
• ghets- /ɡhets/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant following a vowel forms a syllable.
• drap /drɑp/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllables are formed around a vowel.

5. Syllable Division Rules Applied:

• Vowel Peak Principle: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
• Onset-Rime Structure: Syllables are structured around an onset (initial consonant(s)) and a rime (vowel and following consonants).
• Sonority Sequencing Principle: Consonant clusters are resolved based on sonority (loudness) – more sonorous sounds tend to be syllable peaks.
• Compound Word Syllabification: Nynorsk often maintains the original syllable divisions of the constituent words in compounds.

6. Exceptions/Special Cases per Syllable:

• The m- syllable is short and often elided in rapid speech.
• The connecting vowel -m- is a common feature of Nynorsk compounds and doesn't follow typical syllable division rules.

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

• The length of the word and the number of compound elements make it a complex case.
• The presence of the connecting vowel -m- is a specific feature of Nynorsk.

8. Grammatical Role & Syllabification Shifts:

The word is primarily a noun. While it could theoretically be used adjectivally (e.g., "en barmhjertighetsdrap-handling" - a mercy-killing act), the syllabification would remain the same. The stress pattern would also remain consistent.

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Part of Speech: Noun
• Definitions:
  • "Killing out of pity; mercy killing."
  • Translation: "Mercy killing"
• Synonyms: nådedrap (graceful killing), euthanasi (euthanasia - loanword)
• Antonyms: mord (murder), drap (killing)
• Examples:
  • "Han begikk et barmhjertighetsdrap for å avslutte hennes lidelser." (He committed a mercy killing to end her suffering.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation are possible, particularly in the hjerta portion. Some dialects might pronounce the vowel as /æ/ instead of /æ/. This would affect the IPA transcription but not the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

• hjerte /ˈhjærtə/ - Syllables: hjær-te. Similar structure to hjertighets in the target word.
• dramatisk /drɑˈmɑtɪsk/ - Syllables: dra-ma-tisk. Similar to drap in the target word.
• barndom /ˈbɑrnˌdɔm/ - Syllables: bar-ndom. Similar to bar- in the target word.

The syllable division in these words follows the same principles of vowel-centered syllables and consonant clustering. The main difference lies in the length and complexity of the target word due to its compound nature.