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Auditory image

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

A descriptive passage that appeals specifically to the sense of hearing

Detailed Definition
Auditory image denotes a vivid mental impression created in the reader’s mind through language that appeals specifically to the sense of hearing, often achieved via phonetic devices like consonance, sibilance, or rhythmic mimicry; unlike visual imagery, auditory images rely on the sonic qualities of words to simulate environmental, emotional, or abstract sounds within the poem’s fabric.
Example
Example in poetry:
“The moan of doves in immemorial elms” (Hardy) creates auditory image of loss; Auditory images evoke sound without visual referent; In haiku, “frog plop” conjures pond acoustics instantly; Hip-hop poetry uses beat and flow as primary auditory images; They activate the reader’s inner ear.
Additional Notes
Auditory image is the mental picture or sensation evoked by words describing a sound; it is a key component of aural imagery.
Also Known As
sound image aural picture acoustic image auditory vision Auricular image Ear-directed image
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