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Hyphenation ofspørsmålsteikn

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

spør-smål-s-teikn

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

/ˈspœrsmɔːlsˌtæɪ̯kn/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0100

Primary stress falls on the second syllable 'smål'

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

spør/spœr/

Open syllable, onset 'sp', coda 'r'

smål/smɔːl/

Open syllable, stressed, onset 'sm', coda 'l'

s/s/

Closed syllable, onset 's', no coda

teikn/tæɪ̯kn/

Closed syllable, onset 't', coda 'kn'

Morphemic Breakdown

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

(prefix)
+
spør, teikn(root)
+
-smål-s-(suffix)

Prefix:

Root: spør, teikn

Old Norse origins

Suffix: -smål-s-

Derived from Old Norse 'mál', genitive marker

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A punctuation mark used to indicate a question.

Translation: Question mark

Examples:

"Husk å sette eit spørsmålsteikn slutten av spørsmålet."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

bokmålbok-mål

Similar open syllable structure and stress pattern.

fjelltoppfjell-topp

Similar coda structure ('pp') and stress pattern.

datamaskinda-ta-maskin

Illustrates breaking consonant clusters after the first consonant.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Consonant clusters are broken after the first consonant to create permissible onsets.

Vowel Hiatus

Vowel sequences create syllable boundaries.

Coda Formation

Single consonants following vowels form codas and new syllables.

Special Considerations

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

The retroflex 'r' can influence syllable weight, but doesn't alter the division in this case.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'spørsmålsteikn' is divided into four syllables: spør-smål-s-teikn, with primary stress on 'smål'. The division follows Nynorsk rules of maximizing onsets and respecting vowel boundaries. It's a noun meaning 'question mark' with Old Norse roots.

Detailed Analysis:

Analysis of "spørsmålsteikn" (Norwegian Nynorsk)

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "spørsmålsteikn" presents some challenges due to consonant clusters and the presence of the retroflex consonant /ʈ/ represented by the letter 'r' in Nynorsk. The vowel qualities also need careful consideration.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Nynorsk syllable division rules, which generally favor onsets and codas being as simple as possible, and respecting vowel hiatus, the division will be: spør-smål-s-teikn.

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • spør-: Root, originating from Old Norse spyrja meaning "to ask". (Function: base of the question element)
  • -smål-: Derived from Old Norse mál, meaning "speech, language, word". (Function: relates to the content of the question)
  • -s-: Genitive/possessive marker. (Function: grammatical marker)
  • -teikn: Root, originating from Old Norse teikn meaning "sign, mark". (Function: indicates the sign/symbol)

4. Stress Identification:

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

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈspœrsmɔːlsˌtæɪ̯kn/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

  • spør: /spœr/ - Open syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are generally broken after the first consonant if it creates a permissible onset. Exception: The 'r' is retroflex, which can sometimes influence syllable weight.
  • smål: /smɔːl/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel hiatus dictates a syllable break before the vowel. Stress falls here.
  • s: /s/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Single consonant following a vowel forms a coda and a new syllable.
  • teikn: /tæɪ̯kn/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster 'kn' forms a permissible coda.

7. Edge Case Review:

The 'r' in "spør" is a retroflex consonant, which can sometimes create ambiguity in syllable division. However, in this case, the following vowel 's' clearly defines the syllable boundary.

8. Grammatical Role:

"Spørsmålsteikn" functions solely as a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical context within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A question mark.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine/neuter depending on context)
  • Translation: Question mark
  • Synonyms: Spørjeteikn (Bokmål equivalent)
  • Antonyms: None directly applicable.
  • Examples: "Husk å sette eit spørsmålsteikn på slutten av spørsmålet." (Remember to put a question mark at the end of the question.)

10. Regional Variations:

Pronunciation of the retroflex 'r' can vary regionally. Some dialects may pronounce it more strongly than others, but this doesn't significantly alter the syllable division.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • bokmål: /bɔkˈmɔːl/ - bok-mål. Similar structure, stress on the second syllable.
  • fjelltopp: /ˈfjɛlːtɔp/ - fjell-topp. Similar coda structure ('pp'), stress on the second syllable.
  • datamaskin: /daˈtaˌmaskin/ - da-ta-maskin. More complex consonant clusters, but still follows the principle of breaking clusters after the first consonant when possible.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/22/2025

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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.