strat-uh-fik-AY-shuhn
/ˌstɹætəfɪˈkeɪʃən/
stratification is pronounced strat-uh-fik-AY-shuhn (/ˌstɹætəfɪˈkeɪʃən/). Stratification refers to the process by which something becomes arranged into layers or classes, often through natural, social, or geological processes. It can describe sedimentary layering, social hierarchies, or the act of dividing into strata. The term emphasizes structured layering and differentiation over time.
Stratification refers to the process by which something becomes arranged into layers or classes, often through natural, social, or geological processes. It can describe sedimentary layering, social hierarchies, or the act of dividing into strata. The term emphasizes structured layering and differentiation over time.
- You may over-extend the /æ/ in /stræt/ or let it slide into /æi/; keep the vowel crisp and short. - The middle syllable /ɪ/ can be reduced; ensure it remains clearly heard for /strat-ɪ-/ rather than a schwa. - The final /ʃən/ can be swallowed; articulate /ʃən/ lightly but distinctly for a clean ending. Remember: stress is on the -fi-/keɪ- portion; maintaining that rhythm prevents flattening of the word. Practice with slow enunciation and then speed up gradually. - Tips: exaggerate the /t/ before /ɪ/ to avoid swallowing; ensure the /keɪ/ is not /kiː/; use light tongue movement to slide from /ɪ/ to /keɪ/.
"The stratification of soil layers affects groundwater movement."
"Cultural stratification in the city led to distinct neighborhoods and services."
"Geologists studied sedimentary stratification to interpret ancient environments."
- The pronunciation is /ˌstræt.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ (US/UK). Stress falls on the third syllable in -fi-, with secondary stress on the first syllable’s bunched 'strat-' segment. Start with /stræt/ (like 'strat' in 'stratocaster'), then /ɪ/ (short i), /fɪ/ (as in 'fit'), /ˈkeɪ/ (as in 'kay'), and /ʃən/ (shən). Ensure the /t/ blends quickly into the /ɪ/. Use a light, quick /t/ before the /ɪ/ to avoid an over-deliberate stop. Audio references: consult Cambridge or Oxford audio entries for /ˌstræt.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/.
Common errors include misplacing stress on the -keɪ- syllable, producing /stræti/ or delaying the /ˈkeɪ/ stress, and flattening the /ɪ/ into /iː/ or merging /t/ with /r/. To correct: keep the /ˌstræt.ɪ/ sequence crisp, release /t/ quickly before /ɪ/, and ensure the /keɪ/ syllable carries the primary stress. Practice with slow, exaggerated syllable taps then natural speed.
In US/UK, the main stress sits on the -fi- of -fɪˈkeɪ-; rhoticity changes are minimal, but vowel qualities differ: US tends to a slightly tenser /æ/ in /stræt/, UK often lighter /æ/ and crisper /t/. AU tends to broader vowel sounds and an even more clipped /t/; overall, the /ɪ/ and /eɪ/ sequences remain close to /ɪ/ and /eɪ/ across varieties, with subtle vowel length variations.
Two core challenges: a) extended multisyllabic word with five syllables including a stressed central segment, and b) the cluster /str/ followed by a tense /æt/ and the diphthong /eɪ/. The /t/ blends into the /ɪ/; avoid over-glaring /t/ release. Maintain the weak secondary stress before -fi- and emphasize the /keɪ/ vowel cluster. IPA cues guide accurate tongue positions.
A unique feature is the pronounced /æ/ in the /stræt/ onset coupled with the /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a distinct /eɪ/ in the third stressed syllable, producing a rhythm: STRA-tih-FI-kay-shun. The sequence requires clean pause between hypothetically linked syllables while maintaining a smooth flow in rapid speech. Focus on the transitions between /æ/ → /ɪ/ and /ɪ/ → /keɪ/.
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- US: /ˌstræt.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/; rhoticity has little effect; focus on crisp /ˈkeɪ/ and an ec-strong /t/ release. - UK: /ˌstræt.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ with slightly crisper consonants and a lighter /æ/; the /t/ is often t-voiced. - AU: /ˌstræt.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ with slightly broader vowels; avoid flapping /t/; keep the diphthong /eɪ/ stable. IPA references: /ˌstræt.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/.
Stratification comes from the Latin strata, meaning a bed, layer, or pavement, from stare 'to stand.' The English formation combines strat- (layer) with -fication (the act of making). It entered scientific and sociological vocabularies in the 18th and 19th centuries, expanding from geology to sociology and biology. The root strata has long been used to denote hierarchical layers in earth science, and by the 19th century, scholars adopted stratification to describe social hierarchies and other ordered structures. First known uses appear in geological texts discussing rock layers, later spreading to sociology and biology to denote layered organization and division into strata. The concept has evolved to describe both physical layering (soil, sediment, rock) and metaphorical layering (class, rank, or category), with the process implying a progressive, often gradual formation of distinct tiers.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "stratification" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "stratification"
-ion sounds
-me) sounds
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