Hyphenation ofbakgrunnsinformasjon

Norwegian Word Analysis: bakgrunnsinformasjon

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "bakgrunnsinformasjon" is a compound noun in Norwegian, meaning "background information." It's a relatively long word, and its pronunciation follows the typical Norwegian rules of vowel and consonant articulation. The 'r' is alveolar, and vowel qualities are relatively consistent with standard East Norwegian pronunciation.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Norwegian syllable division rules, which generally favor maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and respecting vowel sequences, the word breaks down as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• bak-: Prefix, from Old Norse bak, meaning "behind" or "back." (Adjectival/Locational prefix)
• grunn-: Root, from Old Norse grund, meaning "ground," "basis," or "foundation." (Noun root)
• -s-: Genitive marker, linking grunn to informasjon. (Morphological linker)
• informasjon: Root, borrowed from French information, ultimately from Latin informatio. (Noun root)
• -sjon: Suffix, common in Norwegian nouns borrowed from Romance languages, indicating a noun of action or state. (Noun suffix)

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable: grunns. Norwegian generally stresses the first syllable of a word, but in compounds, the stress often shifts to the second element.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/bɑkˈɡrʊnsɪnfɔrmɑsjøːn/

6. Edge Case Review:

Norwegian allows for some flexibility in syllable division, particularly with consonant clusters. However, the division presented here is the most common and phonologically justifiable.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word is primarily a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function within a sentence.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Word: bakgrunnsinformasjon
• Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine)
• English Translation: Background information
• Synonyms: kontekst, forhistorie
• Antonyms: detaljert informasjon, spesifikk informasjon
• Examples:
  • "Jeg trenger mer bakgrunnsinformasjon før jeg kan ta en beslutning." (I need more background information before I can make a decision.)
  • "Rapporten gir omfattende bakgrunnsinformasjon om prosjektet." (The report provides comprehensive background information about the project.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• vennskap (friendship): ven-skap. Similar structure with a compound noun. Stress on the first syllable.
• arbeidsliv (working life): ar-beids-liv. Compound noun, stress on the first syllable.
• datamaskiner (computers): da-ta-maski-ner. Compound noun, stress on the second syllable.

The difference in stress placement in "bakgrunnsinformasjon" compared to "vennskap" and "arbeidsliv" is due to the length and complexity of the compound, with the stress shifting to the second element. "datamaskiner" is similar in stress placement.

10. Division Rules:

• Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters are generally kept together in the onset of a syllable (e.g., gr-).
• Vowel Peak Principle: Each syllable must have a vowel peak.
• Syllable Weight: Syllables tend to be balanced in weight (avoiding overly long or short syllables).
• Compound Stress: Stress shifts to the second element in many Norwegian compounds.

11. Special Considerations:

The 'r' sound in Norwegian can be challenging for non-native speakers. Its pronunciation can vary regionally. The genitive 's' is a common feature in Norwegian noun phrases and doesn't significantly affect syllable division.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist, but they don't fundamentally alter the syllable division. Some dialects might slightly reduce the vowel in unstressed syllables.