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Hyphenation ofeigenkjærlighet

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

ei-gen-kjær-li-ghet

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

/ˈæɪ̯ɡənˌkjæːrlɪˌɡheɪ̯t/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

01000

Primary stress falls on the second syllable ('kjær-'). This is typical for Nynorsk compound nouns.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

ei/æɪ̯/

Open syllable, initial vowel digraph.

gen/ɡən/

Closed syllable, consonant after vowel.

kjær/kjæːr/

Open, stressed syllable, 'kj' as a single onset.

li/lɪ/

Closed syllable, consonant after vowel.

ghet/ɡheɪ̯t/

Closed syllable, consonant after vowel.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

eigen(prefix)
+
kjær(root)
+
lighet(suffix)

Prefix: eigen

German origin, meaning 'own', indicates possession.

Root: kjær

Old Norse origin, meaning 'dear, beloved'.

Suffix: lighet

Old Norse origin, '-hood, -ness', forms abstract nouns.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

Self-love, self-regard, egotism.

Translation: Self-love

Examples:

"Han hadde en sunn dose eigenkjærlighet."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

vennskapven-skap

Similar onset structure and compound noun formation.

arbeidskraftar-beids-kraft

Compound noun structure, stress on the second element.

hjemmelagethjem-mel-a-get

Compound adjective, similar vowel combinations and syllabic structure.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Maximize Onsets

Consonant clusters are generally kept together at the beginning of a syllable (e.g., 'kj').

Vowel-Consonant Pattern

A vowel followed by a consonant typically forms a syllable boundary.

Vowel Digraphs

Vowel digraphs (like 'ei') often form a single syllable, but can be split depending on context.

Special Considerations

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

Regional variations in the pronunciation of the 'g' sound (velar fricative vs. stop) do not affect syllabification.

The 'kj' cluster is consistently treated as a single onset.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'eigenkjærlighet' is a compound noun divided into five syllables: ei-gen-kjær-li-ghet. Stress falls on the second syllable ('kjær-'). Syllabification follows Nynorsk rules prioritizing onsets and vowel-consonant patterns. The word consists of a German-derived prefix ('eigen-'), an Old Norse root ('kjær-'), and an Old Norse suffix ('-lighet').

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "eigenkjærlighet" (Norwegian Nynorsk)

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "eigenkjærlighet" is a compound noun. Pronunciation in Nynorsk can vary slightly regionally, but generally follows fairly consistent rules. The 'æ' is pronounced as a short 'a' sound, similar to the 'a' in 'cat'. The 'kj' is a palatal plosive, similar to the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch' or German 'ich'. The 'g' is a velar fricative, similar to the 'gh' in Dutch.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Nynorsk syllable division rules, which prioritize maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and avoiding stranded consonants, the division is as follows.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • eigen-: German origin, meaning "own". Functions as a prefix/first element indicating possession.
  • kjær-: Old Norse origin, meaning "dear, beloved". Root of the word, denoting affection.
  • -lighet: Suffix, derived from Old Norse '-leik', meaning "-hood, -ness". Forms abstract nouns.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable, "kjær-". This is typical for Nynorsk compound nouns.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈæɪ̯ɡənˌkjæːrlɪˌɡheɪ̯t/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • ei-: /æɪ̯/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel digraphs generally form a single syllable. Exception: Initial vowel combinations are often considered separate syllables.
  • gen-: /ɡən/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant after a vowel forms a syllable.
  • kjær-: /kjæːr/ - Open syllable, stressed. Rule: Maximizing onsets; 'kj' is treated as a single onset.
  • li-: /lɪ/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant after a vowel forms a syllable.
  • ghet: /ɡheɪ̯t/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant after a vowel forms a syllable.

7. Edge Case Review:

The 'kj' cluster is a common feature of Norwegian and is generally treated as a single onset. The 'g' sound can be a source of regional variation, but doesn't significantly impact syllabification.

8. Grammatical Role:

"eigenkjærlighet" is primarily a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: Self-love, self-regard, egotism.
  • Part of Speech: Noun (feminine)
  • Translation: Self-love
  • Synonyms: Sjælvkjærlighet, egoisme
  • Antonyms: Altruisme, uselviskhet
  • Examples: "Han hadde en sunn dose eigenkjærlighet." (He had a healthy dose of self-love.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Some dialects might pronounce the 'g' as a more pronounced velar stop [ɡ], but this doesn't alter the syllabification.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • vennskap: /ˈvɛnːˌskɑp/ - ven-skap (similar onset structure)
  • arbeidskraft: /ˈɑːrˌbeɪ̯ðsˌkrɑft/ - ar-beids-kraft (compound noun structure, stress on the second element)
  • hjemmelaget: /ˈhæmːləˌlɑːɡət/ - hjem-mel-a-get (compound adjective, similar vowel combinations)

The syllable division in "eigenkjærlighet" aligns with these examples, demonstrating the consistent application of Nynorsk syllabification rules in compound words. The preference for maximizing onsets and placing stress on the second element is a common pattern.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/13/2025

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