Hyphenation offlertallsavgjørelse

Norwegian Word Analysis: flertallsavgjørelse

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "flertallsavgjørelse" is a Norwegian noun meaning "plural decision" or "decision regarding plurals." It's a relatively complex word, formed through compounding and derivation. Pronunciation follows standard Norwegian rules, with a tendency towards a relatively even stress distribution, though the final syllable often receives a slight emphasis.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Norwegian syllable division rules, which generally favor maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable), the word is divided as follows (using only the original letters):

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• Prefix: flertalls- (meaning "plural") - Derived from flertall (plural), ultimately from Old Norse fjöltr (many) + tál (number). Morphological function: Specifies the domain of the decision.
• Root: avgjøre- (meaning "to decide") - From Old Norse afgera (to finish, determine). Morphological function: Core meaning of the word.
• Suffix: -lse - Nominalizing suffix, turning the verb avgjøre into a noun. Origin: Old Norse. Morphological function: Creates a noun from a verb.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the third syllable: avgjø. Norwegian stress is generally predictable, often falling on the first syllable of a root or stem. However, compounding can shift the stress.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/flɛrˈtɑlsˌavɡjøːɾˌselːə/

6. Edge Case Review:

Norwegian allows for some flexibility in syllable division, particularly with consonant clusters. However, the proposed division adheres to the principle of maximizing onsets and avoiding stranded consonants.

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: flertallsavgjørelse
• Part of Speech: Noun (feminine)
• Definitions:
  • "Decision regarding plurals"
  • "Ruling on plural formation"
• Translation: Plural decision
• Synonyms: flertallsregel (plural rule), bestemmelse om flertall (determination about plural)
• Antonyms: entallsform (singular form)
• Examples:
  • "Dommeren tok en flertallsavgjørelse om bruken av s-plural." (The judge made a plural decision regarding the use of s-plural.)
  • "Språkrådet diskuterte flertallsavgjørelsen." (The Language Council discussed the plural decision.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• bokhandel (bookstore): bok-han-del. Similar syllable structure with consonant clusters. Stress on the first syllable of the compound.
• universitet (university): u-ni-ver-si-te-t. More syllables, but demonstrates the principle of maximizing onsets.
• problemstilling (problem statement): pro-blem-stil-ling. Similar compounding structure and stress pattern.

The differences in syllable division arise from the varying lengths and complexities of the root words and the presence of different consonant clusters. "flertallsavgjørelse" has a longer root and more complex consonant clusters than the other examples, leading to a different syllable breakdown.

10. Division Rules:

• Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters are generally kept together at the beginning of a syllable. (e.g., flert, avgjø)
• Vowel Peak: Each syllable must contain a vowel.
• Sonority Sequencing: Syllables follow a sonority hierarchy, with sounds becoming more sonorous towards the nucleus (vowel).

11. Special Considerations:

The "avgjø" syllable is a potential point of variation. Some speakers might pronounce it as /av.ɡjøː/, creating a glide. However, the /avɡjøː/ pronunciation is more common and aligns with standard Norwegian phonology.