What does center middle dot in pronunciation transcription might mean


I know only 2 sources (websited) where I can see how to pronounce Japanese
words. These sites are OJAD and WaDoku.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vxeqG.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vxeqG.png)

I like everyting, but in WaDoku transcription they put middle dot, which I do
not know what might mean.

Can you please, explain me, how this dot influence pronunciation?  
For example, what is the difference in pronuciation with dot [だい･とし] vs w/o
dot [だいとし]?

Does this dot mean some kind of little pause?

[だい･とし] = [dai][pause][toshi]  
[だいとし] = [daitoshi]

Or maybe WaDoku just put it for "beauty"-reason?




I am fairly certain that the・dot does not indicate a pause, as that
fundamentally changes the pronunciation of the words. It clearly is not to do
with the pitch accent either as that is shown in the light grey dotted line.

I would venture that the・is an aid to reader on how to parse the word. For
example, I checked the word 人間関係 (human relations) on wadoku. This word is a
compound of the word 人間 (human) and 関係 (relation, relationship, concern); and
it shows にんげん・かんけい as the reading. So, the・I think is just showing where you
“break” the word up into smaller words/suffixes/prefixes which meaningfully
contribute to the meaning of the word.

In the case of your example 大都市, I think it is showing だい・とし as the 大 is
essentially acting as a prefix to 都市 to modify the meaning from “city” to
“large city”.

Would that interpretation make sense with other instances that you have seen
on that website?




I am fairly certain that the・dot does not indicate a pause, as that
fundamentally changes the pronunciation of the words. It clearly is not to do
with the pitch accent either as that is shown in the light grey dotted line.

I would venture that the・is an aid to reader on how to parse the word. For
example, I checked the word 人間関係 (human relations) on wadoku. This word is a
compound of the word 人間 (human) and 関係 (relation, relationship, concern); and
it shows にんげん・かんけい as the reading. So, the・I think is just showing where you
“break” the word up into smaller words/suffixes/prefixes which meaningfully
contribute to the meaning of the word.

In the case of your example 大都市, I think it is showing だい・とし as the 大 is
essentially acting as a prefix to 都市 to modify the meaning from “city” to
“large city”.

Would that interpretation make sense with other instances that you have seen
on that website?

