Hyphenation ofbem-merecer-lhes-emos

Linguistic Analysis of "bem-merecer-lhes-emos" (Portuguese)

1. Pronunciation Considerations:

The word "bem-merecer-lhes-emos" is a conjugated verb form in Portuguese. It's a complex word formed by the combination of an adverb, a verb, and pronominal elements. Pronunciation will follow standard European Portuguese (EP) or Brazilian Portuguese (BP) rules, with slight variations in vowel quality and nasalization. For this analysis, we will primarily focus on EP pronunciation, noting BP variations where relevant.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Portuguese syllabification rules, which prioritize vowel sounds and consonant clusters, the word is divided as follows (using only the original letters):

bem-me-re-cer-lhes-e-mos

3. Morphemic Analysis:

• bem: (Latin bene) - Adverb meaning "well". Functions as an intensifier.
• merecer: (Latin merēre) - Verb meaning "to deserve". Root of the verb.
• lhes: (Latin illis) - Indirect object pronoun ("to them").
• emos: (From ēmus - future inflection) - First-person plural future inflectional ending.

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the penultimate syllable of the verb stem, "cer" in "me-re-cer". This is a standard rule for Portuguese verbs.

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/bɐ̃.mɨ.ɾɨˈseɾ.lɨʃ.ɨˈmoʃ/ (EP)
/bẽj.me.ɾe.seɾˈles.e.mos/ (BP - with diphthongization and different vowel qualities)

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

7. Syllable Division Rules:

• Rule 1: Open Syllable Preference: Portuguese favors open syllables (ending in a vowel).
• Rule 2: Vowel Grouping: Vowel combinations are generally treated as a single syllable.
• Rule 3: Consonant Cluster Handling: Consonant clusters are broken according to pronounceability, often separating them if they create a difficult sequence.
• Rule 4: Stress Placement: Stress influences syllable perception and can affect vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.

8. Grammatical Role & Syllabification Shifts:

"Merecer" can function as an infinitive verb. The syllabification remains the same, but the stress shifts to the final syllable when used in the infinitive form: me-re-ce-r.

9. Definition & Semantics:

• Word: bem-merecer-lhes-emos
• Part of Speech: Verb (Future of the Subjunctive)
• Definitions:
  • "We will deserve it to them."
  • "We will be worthy of it to them."
• Translation: "We will deserve it to them."
• Synonyms: recompensá-los-emos (we will reward them), satisfazê-los-emos (we will satisfy them)
• Antonyms: desmerecer-lhes-emos (we will not deserve it to them)
• Examples: "Se trabalharmos duro, bem-merecer-lhes-emos o respeito." (If we work hard, we will deserve their respect.)

10. Regional Variations:

Brazilian Portuguese tends to diphthongize vowels more frequently than European Portuguese. This affects the pronunciation of syllables like "bem" and "lhes". The vowel sounds are also different.

11. Phonological Comparison:

• cantar: can-tar (similar open/closed syllable structure)
• falar: fa-lar (similar open/closed syllable structure)
• comer: co-mer (similar open/closed syllable structure)

The syllable division in these words follows the same principles of vowel-based separation and consonant cluster handling. The primary difference lies in the stress placement, which is determined by the verb conjugation and morphological structure.

12. Special Considerations:

The combination of the adverb "bem" with the verb "merecer" creates a compound verb form. This doesn't alter the syllabification rules but highlights the morphological complexity of the word. The pronoun "lhes" is clitic, meaning it attaches to the verb form, influencing the overall pronunciation and rhythm.