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Aphaeresis

Device
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The omission of one or more initial letters or sounds from a word (e.g., “’gainst” for “against”), often for metrical or stylistic effect.

Detailed Definition
Aphaeresis is the omission of one or more initial sounds or syllables from a word (e.g., “’gainst” for “against”), commonly used in poetry to maintain meter, enhance rhythm, or evoke archaic or colloquial diction for stylistic effect.
Example
Example in poetry:
Aphaeresis in “’gainst” for “against” (Shakespeare); aphaeresis in “’neath” for “beneath” (Keats); aphaeresis in modern “’cause” for “because”; aphaeresis omits initial syllable for metrical or colloquial effect
Additional Notes
Removal of initial unstressed syllable(s) from word or line. Opposite of prothesis. Creates truncated or headless line. Common in ballad meter and folk verse for rhythmic variation. Related to acephalous lines.
Also Known As
Initial deletion aphesis Prodelision
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