Hyphenation ofgammalmannsstemme

Norwegian Word Analysis: gammalmannsstemme

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "gammalmannsstemme" (old man's voice) is a compound noun in Norwegian. It's pronounced with relatively straightforward vowel and consonant sounds, though the 'mm' cluster requires attention. The word is relatively long, and its syllabification is crucial for understanding its rhythm and pronunciation.

2. Syllable Division:

The syllable division, adhering to the rule of maximizing onsets (consonant clusters at the beginning of a syllable) and avoiding stranded consonants, is as follows:

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• gammal-: Root. Old Norwegian, related to Germanic roots meaning 'old'. Adjectival root.
• manns-: Genitive singular of 'mann' (man). Old Norse origin. Indicates possession.
• stemme-: Root. Old Norse 'stemma', related to Germanic roots meaning 'voice'. Noun root.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable: gam-mal-manns-stem-me. Norwegian generally stresses the first syllable of a word, but compound words often shift the stress to the second element.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈɡɑmːɑlˌmɑnsˈstɛmːə/

6. Edge Case Review:

The 'mm' cluster is a potential edge case. Norwegian allows consonant clusters, but their syllabification needs careful consideration. The 'stemme' part is also a common word on its own, which influences the natural grouping.

7. Grammatical Role:

The word functions solely as a noun. Syllabification remains consistent regardless of grammatical context.

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: The voice of an old man.
• Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine)
• Translation: Old man's voice
• Synonyms: (Context-dependent) eldre manns stemme (older man's voice)
• Antonyms: (Context-dependent) ung manns stemme (young man's voice)
• Examples: "Jeg kjente igjen gammalmannsstemmen i telefonen." (I recognized the old man's voice on the phone.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• fotballsko: fo-tball-sko - Similar structure with compound words. Stress on the first element.
• arbeidsløshet: ar-beids-løs-het - Demonstrates the tendency to break down compounds into smaller syllables. Stress on the second element.
• datamaskin: da-ta-maskin - Another compound word, showing the consistent application of syllable division rules. Stress on the second element.

10. Syllable Analysis Details:

• gam-: /ɡɑm/ - Open syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant.
• -mal: /mɑl/ - Open syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel.
• -manns: /mɑns/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by vowel.
• -stem: /stɛm/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster followed by vowel.
• -me: /mə/ - Open syllable. Rule: Consonant followed by vowel.

11. Division Rules Applied:

• Onset Maximization: Attempting to include as many consonants as possible in the onset of a syllable.
• Vowel-Centric Syllabification: Each syllable must contain a vowel sound.
• Avoidance of Stranded Consonants: Consonants are not left at the end of a syllable without a vowel.

12. Special Considerations:

The 'mm' cluster in 'manns' is a common occurrence in Norwegian and is generally treated as a single onset. The compound nature of the word influences the stress pattern.

13. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

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