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Hyphenation ofmasseundersøkelse

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

mas-se-un-der-sø-kel-se

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

/ˈmɑsːəˌʊnːdərˌsøːkəlˌsæː/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0001001

Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('sø'), following the general Norwegian rule of penultimate stress for words of this length.

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

mas/mɑsː/

Open syllable, onset 'm', nucleus 'a', coda 's'

se/sə/

Open syllable, onset 's', nucleus 'ə'

un/ʊn/

Open syllable, onset 'u', nucleus 'n'

der/dər/

Open syllable, onset 'd', nucleus 'ə', coda 'r'

/søː/

Open syllable, onset 's', nucleus 'øː'

kel/kəl/

Open syllable, onset 'k', nucleus 'ə', coda 'l'

se/sæː/

Open syllable, onset 's', nucleus 'æː'

Morphemic Breakdown

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

masse(prefix)
+
søke(root)
+
else(suffix)

Prefix: masse

French origin, intensifier

Root: søke

Old Norse origin, meaning 'to seek'

Suffix: else

Old Norse origin, nominalizing suffix

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

A large-scale investigation or study.

Translation: Mass investigation, large-scale study

Examples:

"En masseundersøkelse ble gjennomført for å finne årsaken til sykdommen."

"Resultatene fra masseundersøkelsen var overraskende."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

vannskadevan-n-ska-de

Similar syllable structure with consonant clusters.

arbeidsmarkedar-bei-ds-mar-ke-det

More syllables, but similar consonant clusters and stress pattern.

problemstillingpro-blem-stil-ling

Similar in length and complexity, with a final -ing suffix.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Onset Maximization

Consonant clusters are maximized within the onset of a syllable (e.g., 'sk' in 'sø').

Vowel Peak

Each syllable must contain a vowel (the nucleus).

Sonority Sequencing

Syllable onsets and codas follow sonority hierarchies.

Stress Placement

Generally, stress falls on the penultimate syllable in words of this length.

Special Considerations

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

The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of morpheme boundaries.

The 'se' ending is a common nominalizing suffix.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'masseundersøkelse' is a compound noun divided into seven syllables: mas-se-un-der-sø-kel-se. Stress falls on the third syllable ('sø'). It's formed from a French prefix ('masse'), an Old Norse prefix ('under'), a root ('søke'), and a nominalizing suffix ('else'). Syllabification follows onset maximization, vowel peak, and sonority sequencing principles.

Detailed Analysis:

Norwegian Word Analysis: masseundersøkelse

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "masseundersøkelse" (mass investigation) is a compound noun in Norwegian. Its pronunciation involves a relatively straightforward application of Norwegian syllabification rules, though the cluster 'sk' presents a minor consideration.

2. Syllable Division:

mas-se-un-der-sø-kel-se

3. Morphemic Analysis:

  • masse-: Prefix, derived from French "masse" (mass), meaning a large amount or quantity. Morphological function: intensifier.
  • under-: Prefix, Old Norse origin, meaning "under" or "below". Morphological function: indicates a scope or level.
  • søke-: Root, Old Norse "sæki" (to seek, investigate). Morphological function: core meaning of investigation.
  • -else: Suffix, Old Norse "-elsi", forming nouns from verbs. Morphological function: nominalization.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable: un-der--kel-se. Norwegian generally stresses the second-to-last syllable in words of this length.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈmɑsːəˌʊnːdərˌsøːkəlˌsæː/

6. Edge Case Review:

The 'sk' cluster is generally treated as a single onset, but can sometimes be broken depending on the following vowel. Here, it remains intact within the 'sø' syllable.

7. Grammatical Role:

"masseundersøkelse" is primarily a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of grammatical function, as it doesn't inflect.

8. Definition & Semantics:

  • Definition: A large-scale investigation or study.
  • Grammatical Category: Noun (feminine gender - undersøkelsen)
  • Translation: Mass investigation, large-scale study
  • Synonyms: storskala undersøkelse (large-scale investigation), omfattende undersøkelse (comprehensive investigation)
  • Antonyms: liten undersøkelse (small investigation), begrenset undersøkelse (limited investigation)
  • Examples:
    • "En masseundersøkelse ble gjennomført for å finne årsaken til sykdommen." (A mass investigation was conducted to find the cause of the disease.)
    • "Resultatene fra masseundersøkelsen var overraskende." (The results from the mass investigation were surprising.)

9. Phonological Comparison:

  • vannskade (water damage): van-n-ska-de. Similar syllable structure, with consonant clusters. Stress on the second syllable.
  • arbeidsmarked (labor market): ar-bei-ds-mar-ke-det. More syllables, but similar consonant clusters and stress pattern.
  • problemstilling (problem statement): pro-blem-stil-ling. Similar in length and complexity, with a final -ing suffix. Stress on the third syllable.

10. Division Rules:

  • Onset Maximization: Consonant clusters are maximized within the onset of a syllable (e.g., 'sk' in 'sø').
  • Vowel Peak: Each syllable must contain a vowel (the nucleus).
  • Sonority Sequencing: Syllable onsets and codas follow sonority hierarchies.
  • Stress Placement: Generally, stress falls on the penultimate syllable in words of this length.

11. Special Considerations:

The compound nature of the word requires careful consideration of morpheme boundaries when applying syllabification rules. The 'se' ending is a common nominalizing suffix and is treated as a separate syllable.

12. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation might exist, but they generally don't affect the syllable division. Some dialects might reduce the vowel in "masse" to /mə/.

Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

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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.