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Hyphenation ofsjälvbevarelsedriften

Syllable Division & Pronunciation

Syllable Division:

själv-be-va-rel-se-drift-en

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

/ˈsjølvbɛˌvaːrɛlsɛˌdriftɛn/

Stress Pattern:(which syllables are emphasized when speaking)

0100010

Primary stress falls on the second syllable ('be-VA-rel-se-drift-en').

Detailed Syllable Breakdown

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

själv/ˈsjølv/

Open syllable, onset with semivowel.

be/ˈbeː/

Open syllable.

va/ˈvaː/

Open syllable.

rel/ˈrɛl/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster onset.

se/ˈsɛ/

Open syllable.

drift/ˈdrift/

Closed syllable, consonant cluster onset.

en/ˈɛn/

Open syllable, definite article suffix.

Morphemic Breakdown

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

själv(prefix)
+
bevara(root)
+
else-drift-en(suffix)

Prefix: själv

Old Norse origin, reflexive pronoun/adjective prefix, meaning 'self'.

Root: bevara

Old Norse origin, verb root meaning 'to preserve'.

Suffix: else-drift-en

Germanic origin, -else forms nouns from verbs, -drift means 'drive, impulse', -en is the definite article.

Meanings & Definitions
noun(grammatical role in sentences)

The drive for self-preservation

Translation: The drive for self-preservation

Examples:

"Självbevarelsedriften är stark hos alla levande varelser."

"Han handlade utifrån ren självbevarelsedrift."

Similar Words Comparison

Words with similar syllable patterns or pronunciation features

överlevnadsinstinktenö-ver-lev-nads-in-stink-ten

Similar compound noun structure with multiple suffixes.

försvarsmekanismenför-svar-sme-ka-nis-men

Another compound noun with a similar pattern of suffixes and consonant clusters.

livsuppehållandeliv-up-pe-håll-an-de

Demonstrates the same principle of dividing before vowels and maximizing onsets.

Syllable Division Rules

The linguistic principles used to determine where syllables begin and end

Vowel Division

Syllable division occurs before each vowel.

Onset Maximization

Consonant clusters are maximized in the onset of each syllable.

Special Considerations

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

Potential reduction of 'v' in 'själv' in rapid speech, but doesn't affect syllabification.

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation.

Analysis Summary

Summary:

The word 'självbevarelsedriften' is a complex Swedish noun divided into seven syllables based on vowel division and onset maximization rules. It consists of a prefix, root, and multiple suffixes, with primary stress on the second syllable. It means 'the drive for self-preservation'.

Detailed Analysis:

Swedish Word Analysis: självbevarelsedriften

1. Examination & Pronunciation:

The word "självbevarelsedriften" is a complex noun in Swedish, meaning "the drive for self-preservation." It's a compound word built from several morphemes. Pronunciation involves a mix of consonant clusters and vowels, typical of Swedish.

2. Syllable Division:

Following Swedish syllabification 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:

  • själv-: Prefix, meaning "self" (Old Norse origin). Functions as a reflexive pronoun/adjective prefix.
  • bevara-: Root, meaning "to preserve" (Old Norse origin). Verb root.
  • -else-: Suffix, forming nouns from verbs, indicating an action or process (Germanic origin).
  • -drift-: Suffix, meaning "drive, impulse, instinct" (Germanic origin). Noun suffix.
  • -en: Definite article suffix, indicating the noun is definite (Germanic origin).

4. Stress Identification:

The primary stress falls on the second syllable: "be-VA-rel-se-drift-en".

5. Phonetic Transcription:

/ˈsjølvbɛˌvaːrɛlsɛˌdriftɛn/

6. Syllable Breakdown & Rule Application:

Here's a detailed breakdown of each syllable, with IPA transcription, rule application, and potential exceptions:

  • själv: /ˈsjølv/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllable division occurs before a vowel. Exception: The 'j' is a semivowel and forms part of the onset.
  • be: /ˈbeː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllable division occurs before a vowel.
  • va: /ˈvaː/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllable division occurs before a vowel.
  • rel: /ˈrɛl/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are maximized in the onset.
  • se: /ˈsɛ/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllable division occurs before a vowel.
  • drift: /ˈdrift/ - Closed syllable. Rule: Consonant clusters are maximized in the onset.
  • en: /ˈɛn/ - Open syllable. Rule: Syllable division occurs before a vowel.

7. Edge Case Review:

The 'v' in "själv" can sometimes be reduced or elided in rapid speech, but this doesn't affect the syllabification. The long vowels /eː/ and /aː/ are typical of Swedish and don't present any syllabification challenges.

8. Grammatical Role:

The word is primarily a noun. Syllabification and stress remain consistent regardless of its grammatical function within a sentence.

9. Definition & Semantics:

  • Word: självbevarelsedriften
  • Part of Speech: Noun (en)
  • Definitions:
    • "The drive for self-preservation"
    • "The instinct to survive"
  • Translation: "The drive for self-preservation"
  • Synonyms: överlevnadsinstinkten (the survival instinct)
  • Antonyms: självmordstendensen (the tendency towards suicide)
  • Examples:
    • "Självbevarelsedriften är stark hos alla levande varelser." (The drive for self-preservation is strong in all living beings.)
    • "Han handlade utifrån ren självbevarelsedrift." (He acted out of pure self-preservation.)

10. Alternative Pronunciations/Regional Variations:

Regional variations in vowel pronunciation exist, but they don't significantly alter the syllabification. Some dialects might pronounce the 'v' in "själv" more distinctly.

11. Phonological Comparison:

  • överlevnadsinstinkten: ö-ver-lev-nads-in-stink-ten - Similar structure with multiple suffixes. Syllabification follows the same onset maximization rule.
  • försvarsmekanismen: för-svar-sme-ka-nis-men - Another compound noun with a similar pattern of suffixes and consonant clusters.
  • livsuppehållande: liv-up-pe-håll-an-de - Demonstrates the same principle of dividing before vowels and maximizing onsets.
Analysis generated by gemma3:27b on 6/9/2025

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