Hyphenation ofsamfunnsspørsmål

Norwegian Nynorsk Word Analysis: samfunnsspørsmål

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "samfunnsspørsmål" (meaning "social question" or "societal issue") is a compound noun in Norwegian Nynorsk. It consists of several morphemes. Pronunciation involves a mix of voiced and voiceless consonants, and vowel qualities typical of Nynorsk.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Nynorsk syllable division rules, which generally favor open syllables (CV) and avoid consonant clusters at syllable boundaries where possible, the division is as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• sam-: Prefix, originating from Old Norse sam- meaning "together, with". Morphological function: intensifier, combining element.
• funn-: Root, from funn meaning "finding, discovery". Related to the verb finna ("to find").
• -s-: Genitive marker, linking funn to spørsmål.
• spørsmål: Root, meaning "question". From Old Norse spurningmál, composed of spurn ("to ask") and mál ("speech, matter").

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: spør.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈsɑmˌfʊnːsˌspœɾsmɔːl/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

• sam-: /ˈsɑm/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Prefer open syllables. No exceptions.
• funns-: /ˈfʊnːs/ - Closed syllable (CVC). Rule: Consonant clusters are tolerated within syllables. The doubled 'n' creates a long vowel. Exception: The 'n' is geminated, a common feature in Nynorsk.
• spør-: /ˈspœɾ/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Prefer open syllables. No exceptions.
• smål: /smɔːl/ - Open syllable (CV). Rule: Prefer open syllables. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

The gemination of 'n' in funns is a key feature of Nynorsk and affects pronunciation and syllable weight. The compound nature of the word also influences the stress pattern.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Samfunnsspørsmål" primarily functions as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical role within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Word: samfunnsspørsmål
• Part of Speech: Noun (neuter)
• Definitions:
  • "A question relating to society."
  • "A social issue."
• Translation: "Social question", "Societal issue"
• Synonyms: samfunnsproblem (social problem), samfunnsutfordring (social challenge)
• Antonyms: (Difficult to find direct antonyms, as it's a concept. Perhaps privatsak - private matter)
• Examples:
  • "Dette er eit viktig samfunnsspørsmål." (This is an important social issue.)
  • "Debatten dreier seg om eit vanskeleg samfunnsspørsmål." (The debate revolves around a difficult societal question.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations & Regional Variations:

Regional variations in Nynorsk pronunciation exist, particularly regarding vowel qualities. Some dialects might pronounce /œ/ as /ø/, but this wouldn't significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

• skule (school): sku-le. Similar CV structure.
• husmann (cottager): hus-mann. Similar CV structure, compound word.
• arbeidsliv (working life): ar-bei-ds-liv. More syllables, but demonstrates the CV preference.

The differences lie in the length of the syllables and the presence of geminated consonants (like in funns), which are common in Nynorsk and affect syllable weight.