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Hyphenation ofselvmordsforsøk

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

selv-mords-for-søk

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

/ˈsɛlvmɔɾdsfɔʂœk/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0100

Primary stress falls on the second syllable ('mor').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

selv/sɛlv/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

mords/mɔɾds/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster onset.

for/fɔɾ/

Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

søk/sœk/

Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

selv(prefix)
+
mord(root)
+
søk(suffix)

Prefix: selv

Old Norse *selfr*, reflexive/intensifying

Root: mord

Old Norse *morð*, core meaning 'murder'

Suffix: søk

Old Norse *sæki*, forming a verbal noun 'attempt'

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

An attempt to take one's own life.

Translation: Suicide attempt

Examples:

"Han ble innlagt etter eit selvmordsforsøk."

"Ho hadde fleire selvmordsforsøk bak seg."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

vennskapven-nskap

Similar syllable structure with consonant cluster onset.

arbeidslivar-beids-liv

Demonstrates Nynorsk pattern of breaking up compound words.

datamaskinda-ta-maskin

Shows how consonant clusters are handled in syllable division.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Maximize Onsets

Consonant clusters are generally kept together in the onset of a syllable.

Avoid Stranded Consonants

Consonants are not left at the end of a syllable unless necessary.

Vowel-Consonant Division

Syllables are often divided after a vowel.

Special Considerations

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

The 'rds' cluster in 'mords' could be analyzed differently in some theoretical frameworks, but the alveolar 'r' allows it to function as part of the onset.

Regional variations in pronunciation of 'r' may exist, but do not significantly affect syllable division.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'selvmordsforsøk' is divided into four syllables: selv-mords-for-søk. Stress falls on the second syllable ('mor'). The word is a noun meaning 'suicide attempt' and is morphologically complex, consisting of a prefix, root, and suffix. Syllable division follows Nynorsk rules prioritizing maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "selvmordsforsøk" (Norwegian Nynorsk)

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "selvmordsforsøk" is pronounced with a relatively consistent vowel quality across its syllables, typical of Nynorsk. The 'r' is alveolar, and the 'ø' is a close-mid back rounded vowel. The final 'k' is pronounced.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Nynorsk syllable division rules, which generally favor maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and avoiding stranded consonants, the word breaks down as follows.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • selv-: Prefix, meaning "self" (Old Norse selfr). Morphological function: reflexive/intensifying.
  • mord-: Root, meaning "murder" (Old Norse morð). Morphological function: core meaning.
  • -s-: Linking consonant, connecting the root to the following element.
  • for-: Prefix, meaning "for" or "attempt" (Old Norse fyrir). Morphological function: indicating purpose or attempt.
  • -søk-: Suffix, meaning "attempt" (Old Norse sæki). Morphological function: forming a verbal noun.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable: mor. This is typical for Nynorsk words of this length and structure.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈsɛlvmɔɾdsfɔʂœk/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • selv-: /ˈsɛlv/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s). No exceptions.
  • mords-: /ˈmɔɾds/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by vowel. Exception: The 'r' is a sonorant, allowing it to form part of the onset.
  • for-: /ˈfɔɾ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. No exceptions.
  • søk-: /ˈsœk/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant. No exceptions.

7. Edge Case Review:

The 'rds' cluster in mords could potentially be analyzed differently in some theoretical frameworks, but the alveolar 'r' allows it to function as part of the onset.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Selvmordsforsøk" functions primarily as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical context.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: An attempt to take one's own life.
  • Translation: Suicide attempt
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (neuter gender)
  • Synonyms: Sjálvmordstilraun (Nynorsk), Selvmordforsøk (Bokmål)
  • Antonyms: Livsglede (joy of life), Livsvilje (will to live)
  • Examples:
    • "Han ble innlagt etter eit selvmordsforsøk." (He was hospitalized after a suicide attempt.)
    • "Ho hadde fleire selvmordsforsøk bak seg." (She had several suicide attempts behind her.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in Nynorsk pronunciation are minimal for this word. The 'r' might be slightly more or less pronounced depending on the dialect.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • vennskap (friendship): ven-nskap - Similar syllable structure with a consonant cluster in the onset.
  • arbeidsliv (working life): ar-beids-liv - Demonstrates the typical Nynorsk pattern of breaking up compound words into syllables.
  • datamaskin (computer): da-ta-maskin - Shows how consonant clusters are handled in syllable division.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/11/2025

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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.