sin-dik-AY-shuhn
/ˌsɪndɪˈkeɪʃən/
syndication is pronounced sin-dik-AY-shuhn (/ˌsɪndɪˈkeɪʃən/). Syndication refers to the process of distributing media or content (such as television shows, articles, or radio segments) to multiple platforms or outlets for simultaneous or sequential release. It often involves licensing agreements and rights management to maximize reach and revenue. In short, it’s about spreading content through a network of channels beyond its original publisher.
Syndication refers to the process of distributing media or content (such as television shows, articles, or radio segments) to multiple platforms or outlets for simultaneous or sequential release. It often involves licensing agreements and rights management to maximize reach and revenue. In short, it’s about spreading content through a network of channels beyond its original publisher.
- Common Mistake 1: Over-emphasizing the initial syllable and neglecting the strong third-syllable /keɪ/; correction: place primary stress on the /keɪ/ and reduce emphasis on /sɪn/ and /dɪ/. - Common Mistake 2: Merging /d/ with the /k/ to create /ɡ/ or a slurred /dɪ.keɪ/; correction: keep /d/ crisp before /ɪ/ and separate from /keɪ/ with a small pause or slight break in mouth position. - Common Mistake 3: Finishing with a dull /ən/ instead of /ʃən/; correction: ensure the final consonant is the voiceless /ʃ/ followed by a light schwa /ən/ and avoid trailing /n/ as a separate syllable. - Practical tip: Practice in minimal pairs: /sɪn/ vs /sɛŋ/ to feel mouth positioning, then incrementally add /dɪ/ and /ˈkeɪ.ʃən/; record and compare.
"The TV network announced a new syndication deal to broaden the show's reach."
"You’ll see reruns in syndicated time slots across several stations."
"Radio stations rely on syndication to fill morning slots with popular hosts."
You pronounce syndication as /ˌsɪn.dɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/. Stress falls on the third syllable: sin-DI-ca-tion, with the primary stress on the ‘kei’/’keɪ’ sound. The leading syllable is a short ‘sin’ with a light schwa in the second syllable. The final ‘tion’ is pronounced as /-ʃən/ (shən). Mouth position: start with a relaxed jaw for /sɪn/, then a quick /dɪ/ before the crisp /keɪ/ vowel, and finish with a soft /ʃən/. Listen for the rhythm: unstressed-unstressed-STRESSED-unstressed. Audio reference: consult a reputable dictionary’s audio entry or a pronunciation platform for verification.
Common errors include misplacing the primary stress on the wrong syllable (often stressing ‘sin’ or ‘di’ instead of ‘keɪ’), and blending /keɪ/ with /kæ/ or mispronouncing the final /ʃən/ as /ən/. To correct: emphasize /keɪ/ as the nucleus: syn-di-KEI-tion, keep /ɪ/ in the second syllable short, and finish with a crisp /ʃən/. Also avoid adding extra syllables like /-ɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/; maintain the 4-syllable rhythm. Practice with slow enunciation, then speed up while preserving the /ˌsɪn.dɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ pattern.
Across US/UK/AU, the core pronunciation remains /ˌsɪn.dɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/, but rhoticity and vowel quality differ slightly. US tends to be rhotic but the /r/ is not present here; the vowels are especially crisp in /ɪ/ and / keɪ /. UK RP may have a marginally shorter /ɪ/ and a slightly rounded /eɪ/; AU often shows a flatter vowel in the first syllables and a more centralized vowel in the second syllable, with similar stress. In all, the primary stress remains on the third syllable, but listeners may perceive subtle vowel shifts due to rhotics and regional intonation.
The difficulty lies in the sequence of consonants and vowel transitions: /s/ + /ɪ/ + /n/ + /d/ requires a quick, controlled tongue tap then lift into /ɪ/ and the strong /keɪ/ syllable, followed by /ʃən/. The stress shift from the second to the third syllable can feel counterintuitive, and the /dɪ/ before /keɪ/ demands precise timing to avoid a blurred /dɪ/. Practicing the exact syllable boundaries and timing with slow repeats helps your mouth learn the efficient path.
A unique aspect is the clear fortition between /d/ and /k/ across syllable boundary, producing a crisp onset for /keɪ/. The transition from /n/ to /d/ is also delicate; you want a light but audible /d/ that doesn’t blur into the vowel of the next syllable. Mastery involves isolating the syllable boundary while keeping the overall flow natural, so the word sounds like a single, steady beat rather than choppy syllables.
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- US: emphasize the third syllable /ˈkeɪ/ with a clear /eɪ/ diphthong, maintain non-rhotic? actually US is rhotic but /r/ is not present; ensure /ˌsɪn.dɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ has a bright /eɪ/ and crisp /ʃən/. - UK: slightly shorter /ɪ/ in the first two syllables, more clipped /ˈkeɪ/ and softer /ʃən/; keep the second syllable relaxed and ensure /dɪ/ is clear but not heavily stressed. - AU: flatter vowel in /ɪ/ and /eɪ/; more centralized /ʃən/ with slightly lenient /ˈkeɪ/; maintain non-aspirated /t/ like quality at the boundary?; all still follow /ˌsɪn.dɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ rhythm. - IPA references: use /ˌsɪn.dɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ as canonical; adjust vowel height and duration per accent.
Syndication comes from the word syndicate, which in turn derives from the Greek syn- ‘together’ and dikas, related to ‘to bind’ or ‘to set in order’ (akin to diktā). The sense evolved in the 19th century to describe the act of forming a syndicate — a group bound together for a common financial or business purpose. In media and publishing, syndication began to denote the licensing arrangement that allows a single content producer to supply content to multiple outlets. The term gained traction in the early 20th century as radio and newspaper industries expanded, with syndication representing a structured, collective distribution model rather than one-off publication. By mid-to-late 20th century, television syndication popularized the model for shows across markets and networks, enabling enduring revenue streams and broader audience reach. Today, syndication encompasses digital platforms and cross-media licensing, reflecting a shift from singular publication to multichannel dissemination across traditional and new media. First known use in print records appears in the late 19th to early 20th century, with formalization in business and media lexicon by the 1920s and 1930s as media landscapes grew more cooperative and franchised.
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Words that rhyme with "syndication"
-ion sounds
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