Hyphenation ofgjennomsnittstall

Norwegian Word Analysis: gjennomsnittstall

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "gjennomsnittstall" (average number) is a compound noun in Norwegian. Its pronunciation involves several consonant clusters typical of the language. The 'gj' is a palatal plosive, and the 'nn' and 'tt' represent geminate consonants, lengthening the sound.

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: gjenn- (Old Norse geinn- meaning 'again, through'). Functions as a prefix indicating repetition or completion.
• Root: snitt- (related to snitte 'to cut, slice'). Represents the core meaning of 'section' or 'average'.
• Suffix: -stall (from Old Norse stallr meaning 'place, number'). Functions as a noun suffix denoting a numerical value or quantity.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable: gjennoms-nittstall. Norwegian stress is generally predictable, falling on the first syllable of a word or compound, but can shift in longer compounds.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈɡjɛnːʊmsnɪtːstɑl/

6. Edge Case Review:

Norwegian allows for some flexibility in syllable division, particularly with consonant clusters. However, the proposed division maximizes onsets and adheres to the principle of avoiding syllable-final consonant clusters where possible.

7. Grammatical Role:

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

8. Definition & Semantics:

• Definition: Average number; a numerical representation of an average.
• Grammatical Category: Noun (masculine/neuter depending on context)
• Translation: Average number
• Synonyms: gjennomsnittsverdi (average value), middeltall (middle number)
• Antonyms: ekstremtall (extreme number)
• Examples:
  • "Hva er gjennomsnittstallet for temperaturen i Oslo?" (What is the average number for the temperature in Oslo?)
  • "Gjennomsnittstallet for antall studenter per klasse er 25." (The average number of students per class is 25.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

• gjennomføring (completion): gjenn-om-fø-ring. Similar initial consonant cluster 'gjenn-'. Stress on the first syllable.
• gjennomsiktig (transparent): gjenn-oms-ikt-ig. Similar initial consonant cluster 'gjenn-'. Stress on the first syllable.
• snittflate (cross-section): snitt-fla-te. Shares the root 'snitt-'. Stress on the first syllable.

The differences in syllable division arise from the varying suffixes and the length of the word. "gjennomsnittstall" has a longer suffix and thus a different syllable count.

Syllable List with IPA and Rule Explanations:

1. gjen- /ɡjɛn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are maximized in the onset. Exception: 'gj' is a single phoneme.
2. -noms- /nʊms/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by consonant(s).
3. -nitt- /nɪtː/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Vowel followed by geminate consonant.
4. -stall /stɑl/ - Open syllable. Rule: Consonant cluster onset followed by vowel.

Division Rules Applied:

1. Onset Maximization: Norwegian favors maximizing consonant clusters in the onset of a syllable.
2. Vowel-Based Division: Syllables are generally divided around vowels.
3. Geminate Consonant Handling: Geminate consonants (double consonants) are treated as a single unit within a syllable.

Special Considerations:

The 'gj' sound is a single phoneme in Norwegian, not a consonant cluster for syllabification purposes. The geminate consonants 'nn' and 'tt' influence syllable weight and pronunciation but don't necessarily dictate syllable boundaries.

Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in Norwegian pronunciation might affect the vowel quality (e.g., /ɛ/ vs. /æ/) but are unlikely to significantly alter the syllable division.